Consideration of electrodes and electrolytes for electrochemical gasification of coal by anodic oxidation

It has been found that the performance of graphite anodes in coal electrolysis is closely comparable to that reported previously for anodes of Pt gauze; the sole exception discerned thus far is that the gases formed anodically at graphite are somewhat enriched in carbon monoxide and correspondingly depleted in carbon dioxide as compared to Pt anodes. No significant consumption or degradation of the graphite was observed during short experiments in which about half an equivalent of charge passed — the weight gain measured was about 0.05% of that computed from the assumption of formation of an equivalent quantity of surface oxides. Of several different electrolytes considered and tested, aqueous solutions of H₂SO₄ appear to cause the most rapid reaction rates.