Electrosynthesis of alcohols using gas diffusion electrodes

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-12-diol is produced by reacting ethylene oxide or 12-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.