ELECTROSYNTHESIS OF SOLID TETRA ETHYL AMMONIUM TRIBROMIDE (TEATB) IN A MEMBRANE ELECTROLYZER

Abstract

The conventional method of bromination of organic compounds by direct handling of liquid bromine is hazardous and environmentally unacceptable. Solid organic tribromide compounds are substituted in the place of liquid bromine for bromination reactions. Tetra ethyl ammonium tribromide (TEATB) was synthesized in an electrochemical membrane electrolyzer with 80–82% current efficiency at 50°C using IrO₂/Ta₂O₅-coated titanium anode, nickel-expanded mesh cathode, and Nafion 961 membrane.

[Supplementary materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Chemical Engineering Communications for the following free supplemental resources: FTIR and NMR spectra, a video of TEATB synthesis, and a still from the video.]

Keywords:

• Electrolyzer
• IrO₂-Ta₂O₅/Ti anode
• Nafion 961
• Nickel cathode
• Tetra ethyl ammonium tribromide synthesis

Acknowledgments

We wish to thank Tatva Chintan Pharma chemicals Ltd., Gujarat, India for supplying TEAB and TEAH chemicals. We also thank Messers. M.Ganeshamoorthy and S.Ashokkumar for fabrication of electrolyzers. We are grateful to the Director of CSIR-CECRI, Karaikudi for extending the facilities required to carry out the above work.