| Abstract: | In a stirred batch electrochemical reactor where a series of cathodic reactions ABD takes place, the optimal profiles of electrode potential required to reduce the concentration of A from CAO to CAf in a specified batch period tf, while maximising the final concentration of product B, were determined by means of Pontryagin's maximum principle. The influence of the liquid/solid mass transfer coefficient and the desired final conversion rate of A was investigated. In this paper, the reaction studied was the electroreduction of oxalic acid (A) to glyoxilic acid (B) followed by the reduction of glyoxilic acid to glycollic acid (A). The results obtained by applying optimal profiles were compared to those resulting from constant electrode potentials. It was shown that in realistic operating conditions, the final concentration of Scan be improved up to 25% when electrode potential is optimised. |
