Bromide–Borate Coupling Enables Selective Electrochemical Oxidation of Glycerol to Dihydroxyacetone
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: ABSTRACT Selective electrochemical valorization of biodiesel‐derived glycerol is challenged by competing oxidation pathways that generate complex product mixtures. Here, we report a bromide–borate‐mediated indirect glycerol electrooxidation for selective dihydroxyacetone (DHA) production on carbon electrodes. Bromide is electrochemically converted into soluble oxidized bromine species that mediate homogeneous glycerol oxidation, whereas borate provides a weakly alkaline bromine‐speciation window and coordinates glycerol to bias C3‐product formation toward DHA. At identical pH, borate favored DHA formation, whereas phosphate shifted selectivity toward glyceric acid. Under optimized conditions using 100 mM glycerol and 100 mM KBr in 1 M borate buffer solution (pH 8.2), divided H‐cell electrolysis afforded DHA with 75% relative selectivity and high overall Faradaic efficiency (FE). Recirculating flow‐cell operation increased DHA selectivity to 80% while maintaining high overall FE, and one‐way flow‐cell achieved a DHA production rate of 1205 mmol m −2 h −1 .
Source: Angewandte Chemie
DOI: 10.1002/ange.3736248
Authors: Santosh Bimli, Pallav Sharma, Dongho Lee
Institution: University of Ulsan
Language: English
Subfield: Biomedical Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $5,790
OpenAlex ID: W7222825518