Kinetics of Dimethylsulfoxide Electrooxidation on a Platinum Electrode in Sulfuric-Acid and Alkaline Solutions

Electrochemical study of the mechanism of dimethylsulfoxide electrooxidation on a platinum electrode in acidic and alkaline solutions is carried out. On the stationary anodic polarization curves taken in acidic and alkaline dimethylsulfoxide solutions, the oxidation currents preceded those measured in the supporting electrolyte. By the analyzing of linear segments of anodic voltammograms, the coefficients of the Tafel equation are determined. This allowed choosing the current density range and conditions for the dimethylsulfoxide electrooxidation on the platinum electrode. The electrolysis was carried out at controlled current density in electrolyzers both with unseparated compartments and the anodic and cathodic compartments separated with MK-40, MA-40 membranes and a MF-4SK fluoropolymer sulfocationite membrane. The high electrical conductivity and selectivity of the membranes provided good performance of the electrolysis process and obtaining of high-purity final product. Raman spectroscopy and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry confirmed that the products of dimethylsulfoxide electrooxidation in the acidic solution are dimethylsulfone and dimethylsulfoxide; in alkaline solution, the dimethyl sulfone and sodium methanesulfonate. The method of quantum-chemical calculations showed good adsorption of dimethylsulfoxide molecules at platinum within the frames of the cluster model. It is shown that the dimethylsulfoxide formation at the platinum electrode surface at high current densities occurs by the radical-ion mechanism, involving breaking of the C–S bond. Based on the experimental results obtained, a scheme for the dimethylsulfoxide electrochemical oxidation at platinum is proposed.