PERMEABLE MEMBRANE MASS SPECTROMETRY OF PRODUCTS OF ELECTROCHEMICAL OXIDATION OF CARBOXYLATE IONS.

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/ac00266a020

The volatile products of Kolbe oxidation of carboxylate ions in water and Me//2SO solvents have been detected by permeable membrane mass spectrometry (PERMS). Deconvolution of the mass spectral data by factor analysis allows estimation of carbon dioxide, oxygen, and ethane during the course of electrolysis. In water solution, electrolysis of water occurs in competition with the Kolbe oxidation, and it is possible to follow the individual current efficiencies for these two processes as a function of potential. In Me//2SO solutions, the oxidation of propionate and acetate led to the same products, CO//2 and ethane, but in different stoichiometric proportions. Efficiencies for ethane production are twice as large for propionate as for acetate.