Synthesis of hydroquinone with co-generation of electricity from phenol aqueous solution in a proton exchange membrane fuel cell reactor

Abstract

In a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) an aqueous solution containing 100 mg L−1 of phenol was oxidized at the anode using PtRu/C as catalyst while oxygen gas was reduced at cathode using Pt/C as catalyst. The use of a fuel cell as a flow reactor allowed obtaining hydroquinone, an important compound much used in medicine and cosmetic industry, as product with the co-generation of electricity. A conversion of 20% of phenol with the formation of 16 mg L−1 of hydroquinone (80% of selectivity) was observed after 240 min of fuel cell operation at 80 °C.