ELECTROOXIDATION OF ETHANOLAMINE ON MODIFIED LAYERS OF CU-NI ALLOYS IN ALKALINE ENVIRONMENT

Investigations of ethanolamine oxidation were carried out on Cu-Ni alloy electrodes and modified by anode-cathode cycles in an alkaline environment (1 M KOH). For comparison, investigations were also conducted on polycrystalline copper prepared similarly. The surficial thin layers obtained were subjected to phase analysis using a Philips diffractometer and Co k alpha radiation. Investigations of ethanolamine electro-oxidation were performed by the cyclic voltammetry and potentiostatic pulse method in 1 M KOH + 0.1 M ethanolamine solution. Characteristic kinetic parameters for the electrochemical process were calculated based on i-E curves for electro-oxidation of ethanolamine in an alkaline environment. The influence of the chemical composition of the electrode on the course of the electro-oxidation process was shown. It was ascertained that, with increasing content of copper in the Cu-Ni alloy, the rate of electro-oxidation of ethanolamine rises and its maximal value is greater than the rate of electro-oxidation on pure copper. This shows that oxygen compounds of nickel and copper take part simultaneously in the electro-oxidation of ethanolamine.