Destruction of butyraldehyde isomers using silver catalyzed electrochemical oxidation.

The destruction of butyraldehyde isomers has been studied using a silver catalyzed electrochemical oxidation technique. The destruction rates of nand iso-butyraldehydes were measured as a function of the concentrations of butyraldehyde isomers, silver and nitric acid in aqueous solutions, anode potential and temperature. More than 99% of n-butyraldehyde in 3M nitric acid was destroyed within 50 minutes by electrochemical oxidation at the anode potential of 1.6V versus a reference saturated calomel electrode (SCE). The process was found to be applicable to the destruction of butyraldehyde isomers in nitric acid solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]