Electrosynthesis of alcohols using gas diffusion electrodes: Electrochemical technology for environmental protection

Ethylene glycol is an organic compound with vast applications in various sectors of the chemical industry. Although the best known applications are as an anti-freeze liquid or in the composition of hydraulic fluids, the largest consumption of this compound is in the manufacture of saturated and unsaturated polyester resins, as well as polyurethanes. Ethylene glycol, or ethane-1,2-diol, is produced by reacting ethylene oxide, or 1,2-epoxyethane, with water in the presence of a catalyst, such as dilute sulphuric acid, at a temperature of 60 ºC, but the synthesis of ethylene oxide requires 300 ºC and 20 atm for the reaction to reach high levels of yield. This work proposes an alternative to obtaining ethylene oxide conventionally, which forms ethylene glycol in an aqueous electrolyte. The main results showed that, at constant current, the electrode with palladium oxide presented the best yield for the generation of ethylene glycol and ethanol, with better selectivity for ethylene glycol.