Kinetics of the electrochemical bromination of some unsaturated fatty acids by the rotating ring–disc electrode technique Original Research Article

A platinum ring–disc electrode has been used to investigate the kinetics of the bromination of oleic, erucic and linoleic acid by bromine, generated with constant current at the disc. The bromination was studied in a mixed solvent which contained 90 vol% acetic acid and 10 vol% acetonitrile. The experimental conditions were such that the digital simulation technique for pseudo-first order reactions could be employed to analyse the data obtained. Finally, the second order rate constants were evaluated. The influence of kind and concentration of the background electrolyte on the bromination kinetics of oleic acid was investigated and discussed. Conclusions were drawn concerning the use of the reactions studied to the determination of the iodine value of oils by coulometric titration.