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Anodic reactions of sulphate in molten salts

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Abstract

Electrochemical behaviour of sulphate under anodic polarization in molten sodium chloride, cryolite and sodium fluoride was investigated by cyclic voltammetry and chronopotentiometry at the temperatures of 820°C, 1010°C, and 1000°C, respectively. Using a platinum working electrode, two waves were observed on the chronopotentiograms in the systems: NaCl-Na2SO4 and Na3AlF6-Na2SO4. The first wave was attributed to the formation of oxygen. The second wave probably originated from the reaction of oxygen with platinum, or from oxidation of SO3 decomposition products. Three waves were observed for the anodic process of sulphate ions dissolved in molten sodium fluoride. The first wave was attributed to the formation of oxygen. The second and the third wave were attributed to the formation of PtO and PtO2. This conclusion was supported by cyclic voltammetry experiments of the in-situ formed sulphide in molten NaCl at 820°C and by chronopotentiometry on a gold working electrode in the system NaCl-Na2SO4, where no anodic wave was observed.

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Correspondence to Marta Ambrová.

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Ambrová, M., Fellner, P. & Thonstad, J. Anodic reactions of sulphate in molten salts. Chem. Pap. 64, 8–14 (2010). https://doi.org/10.2478/s11696-009-0099-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/s11696-009-0099-2

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