NEW ANODE MATERIALS FOR ELECTROLYTIC PERSULFATE FORMATION

A NOVEL ELECTRODE MATERIAL IS PROPOSED FOR THE SYNTHESIS OF INORGANIC PERSULFATES, AN IMPORTANT CLASS OF CHEMICALS USED FOR BLEACHING, OXIDIZING AGENTS, AND ETCHING SOLUTIONS IN THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY. THE KNOWN ELECTROCHEMICAL METHODSUSE PLATINUM ANODES, WHICH LEADS TO BOTH HIGH CAPITAL COST AND HIGH OPERATING COST SINCE PLATINUM IS PARTIALLY CONSUMEDUNDER THE ADVERSE CONDITIONS OF PERSULFATE ELECTROLYSIS. AN ALTERNATIVE MATERIAL IS SPECIFICALLY FLUORINATED CARBON, A STABILIZED FORM OF CARBON WHICH IS FLUORINATED ONLY AT THEEDGE SITES, GRAIN BOUNDARIES, DISLOCATIONS, AND OTHER DEFECTS, THUS RENDERING THE CARBON RESISTIVE TO OXIDATIVE ATTACK AT THESE SITES. THE PROPOSED EFFORT WILL INVESTIGATETHE EFFECTIVENESS OF THIS FLUORINATION TREATMENT IN INCREASING ANODE LIFETIME, AND DEFINE CONDITIONS FOR THE SUCCESSFUL OPERATION OF PERSULFATE CELLS UTILIZING THESE IMPROVED ANODES.