Direct electrochemical hydrogenation of toluene at Pt electrodes in a microemulsion electrolyte solution

In the present study, we demonstrated a new concept for the direct electrochemical hydrogenation of toluene using an acidic microemulsion electrolyte with active Pt electrodes to pave the way for efficient methylcyclohexane mass production. We have achieved a Faradaic efficiency of 80% for the toluene/methylcyclohexane conversion at a Pt black electrode, under galvanostatic conditions and in a one-compartment cell. The reaction rate and selectivity of the toluene reduction were found to depend strongly on the surface structure of the Pt electrodes. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.