Simultaneous Anodic and Cathodic Production of Sodium Percarbonate in Aqueous Solution

Sodium percarbonate (SPC) can be produced electrochemically from aqueous Na(2)CO(3) solution in both its 2Na(2)CO(3)center dot 3H(2)O(2) and Na(2)C(2)O(6) forms simultaneously. This was achieved in a two-compartment cell separated by a cation-exchange membrane. Na(2)C(2)O(6) was produced on the anodic side by water oxidation on a boron-doped diamond electrode, with anodic current efficiencies of 20-40%. On the cathodic side, SPC was synthesized from carbonate through generation of H(2)O(2) by oxygen reduction on high-surface-area carbon felt. Cathodic current efficiency was 60% and nearly constant. The effect of Na(2)SiO(3) as a percarbonate stabilizer was studied during electrolysis and during storage, with 4 g/L giving the best performance.