Complex aspects of the nitride electro-reduction reaction

• Grant number: 05/04024-5
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): January 01, 2006
• Effective date (End): December 31, 2007
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Physical-Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Hamilton Brandão Varela de Albuquerque
• Grantee: Adriano Lopes Santos
• Home Institution: Instituto de Química de São Carlos (IQSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

From the fundamental point-of-view, the catalytic electro-reduction of nitrate can be considered as one of the most important prototype when investigating key issues such as selectivity in electrode kinetics. On the other hand, from the practical or applied perspective, its importance stands on environmental problems such as the denitrification of drinking water, as well as in the production of some valuable chemicals used in the chemical industry. There are many papers devoted to the understanding of aspects concerning the electrocatalysis of this reaction. However, in spite of some indication of complex dynamics in the form of autocatalysis and oscillations, it seems that there is no systematic study of the kinetic instabilities present in this system. It is proposed in this project the investigation of the non-linear processes present in the nitrate electro-reduction reaction on polycrystalline platinum electrodes. Besides the conventional electrochemical techniques, the mass changes at the electrode surface will be followed in situ by means of an electrochemical quartz crystal nanobalance. Efforts will be directed to the identification of the conditions under which oscillations are observed, as well as to the study of the impact of some experimental conditions such as the relative concentrations of nitrate and supporting electrolyte and the presence of chloride, on the temporal patterns. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

SANTOS‚ A.L.; JAY DEINER‚ L.; VARELA‚ H. The effect of ultra-low proton concentration on the electrocatalytic reduction of nitrate over platinum. Catalysis Communications, v. 9, n. 2, p. 269-272, 2008.