Electrochemical reduction of acetone. Electrocatalytic activity of platinized platinum

Abstract

The influence of adsorbed hydrogen on the electroreduction of acetone in H₂SO₄ medium on platinized platinum is studied. Two independent paths are accessible for the reaction; one leads to propane and the other to isopropanol. The existence of two types of adsorption for hydrogen is confirmed; one of them is interstitial. The activity of the electrode for the reduction of acetone depends on its interstitial hydrogen content. Besides its influence on the adsorption properties of the electrode, interstitial hydrogen is not directly involved in the reaction path leading to propane, whereas this type of hydrogen has a more important role in the reaction path leading to isopropanol. The hydrogen atoms in the methyl groups of acetone undergo isotopic exchange with the electrolytic hydrogens, during adsorption on the electrode. The degree of exchange depends on the voltage and on the activity of the electrode.