Abstract

A study of the electro-oxidation of gamma hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) on platinum electrode in acidic media has been investigated by cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in the temperature range between 5 and 30ºC. The variation of the j-E curves allows the determination of activation energy in a wide interval of potentials where three characteristic oxidation peaks appear. The j-t curves were registered at the more positive potentials corresponding with the A and B peaks. Stationary current intensity measurements allowed the determination of the activation energy in pure kinetic region conditions. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy made also possible the study of the electrochemical behavior in the same potential region. Temperature dependence of the charge-transfer resistance (Rct) and the rate constant associated with the surface coverage by an adsorbed intermediate (-1=Ro/L) during the GHB electro-oxidation process were evaluated and discussed. In all cases, the values of activation energy, below 30 kJ/mol, suggest that a complex mechanism takes place for the GHB electro-oxidation free of strong interactions with the platinum surface. In situ Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) spectroelectrochemistry spectra corresponding to coadsorbed species, including intermediates of reaction, have been analyzed at several potentials.