Electrochemical treatment of toxic compounds on the surface of amorphous Ni–Nb–Pt–Sn alloys

Acid aqueous solutions of phenol, hydroquinone, and p-benzoquinone have been treated by electrochemical methods to obtain the oxidation of these toxic compounds to CO2 and water. The electrochemical reaction was occurred at the surface of different Ni–Nb–Pt–Sn alloys. The properties of the electrodes shows that the electrochemical oxidation occurs at Pt in the amorphous state and tin oxide layers that are supported in a nickel–niobium matrix. The results show that the optimum composition is Ni–40Nb–0.6Pt–0.4Sn (at.%) and 36% phenol, 29% hydroquinone and 23% of benzoquinone are reduced to CO2 and H2O after 3 h of electrochemical oxidation in conditions of 100 A m−2. The synergistic effect of Sn and Pt as metallic particles is demonstrated by these results.