Platinum-Catalyzed Oxidations of Organic Compounds by Ferric Sulfate: Use of a Redox Fuel Cell to Mediate Complete Oxidation of Ethylene Glycol by Dioxygen at 80°C

Mediated Fuel Cells: Soluble Redox Mediators and Their Applications to Electrochemical Reduction of O2 and Oxidation of H2, Alcohols, Biomass, and Complex Fuels

“…(A) Redox sequence for vanadium-mediated cathode with NO x catalyst for O 2 reduction (||VO 2+ |NO x |O 2 ). For systems featuring this mediated cathode, see refs − . (B) Sustained performance curve of a mediated cathode utilizing a VO 2+ /VO 2 + redox mediator, reoxidized with NO x -based catalysts.…”

“…Reactions were conducted at 80 °C in 3 M H 2 SO 4 . Adapted with permission from ref . Copyright 1996 Academic Press.…”

“…Polarization curves were obtained, but the performance of the overall system was low due to engineering difficulties in cell construction and the large potential losses associated with use of the Fe 2+ /Fe 3+ redox couple as the anodic redox mediator (∼600 mV difference between thermodynamic potential of methane oxidation to CO 2 and the Fe 2+ /Fe 3+ redox potential). This approach was later extended by Whitesides and co-workers to the use of ethylene glycol as a fuel, generating a power density of 9.9 mW/cm 3 , 83 and to the use of solid carbonaceous fuels, including coal (see section 3.1.3 for further discussion). 84 Deng and co-workers reported a fuel cell using VO 2+ /VO 2 +based mediators and an HNO 3 catalyst to mediate O 2 reduction on the cathode paired with an Fe 2+ /Fe 3+ anodic mediator for biomass (wheat straw) oxidation.…”

“…82 An analogous MedFC approach was then demonstrated with methanol, ethylene glycol (and oxidized derivatives), and glycerol oxidation to CO 2 as the anodic process. 83 Other fuels, such as ethanol, acetic acid, or glucose, were oxidized, but CO 2 was not detected. Using a gas buret, the rate of CO 2 formation was measured.…”

Biochemical production of other bioalcohols: biomethanol, biopropanol, bioglycerol, and bioethylene glycol

“…Although it can be used, similar to glycerol, as a fuel for a fuel cell. 13,16 Ethylene glycol is normally produced from ethylene which is produced from fossil resources rather than biomass. However, ethylene glycol can be produced from biomass.…”