Electrochemical Combustion of Phenol at the Carbon Nanotube Electrode

The carboxyl modified carbon nanotubes were obtained by treating them in the concentrated nitric acid with a little surfactant. The complete electrochemical combustion of phenol has been found under 5 M at the carboxyl modified carbon nanotube electrode in phosphate buffer solution. The reaction was discussed in details. Due to the porous tubule of the structure of the carbon nanotube and large quantity of hydroxyl exists in the carboxyl modified carbon nanotube electrode, which were necessary for the continually electrochemical combustion of phenol. Long time potentiostatic oxidation showed that the phenol could be eliminated from the aqueous media without any foul at the carbon nanotube electrode.