Flow Reactor Studies of the Paired Electro‐Oxidation and Electroreduction of Glucose

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Abstract
The electrochemical oxidation of glucose to gluconic acid and reduction of glucose to sorbitol have been paired in an undivided packed‐bed electrode flow reactor. A Raney Ni powder electrocatalyst significantly improved the current efficiency for sorbitol production, as compared to a high hydrogen overpotential cathode. The optimum operating conditions for the paired syntheses are activity W‐2 Raney Ni powder cathode, graphite chip anode, a 1.6M glucose and initial solution composition, pH 5–7, 60°C solution temperature, an applied current of 250–500 mA per 10g of nickel powder cathode and a solution volumetric flow rate of 100 ml‐min−1. Under these conditions, the sorbitol current efficiencies are 80–100%, the gluconic acid efficiencies are 100%, and the product yields are very high.

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