Electrochemical oxidation of thiocyanates on boron-doped diamond electrode in alkaline solutions

Electrochemical oxidation of thiocyanates on a boron-doped diamond electrode in an alkaline medium was studied. An analysis of polarization curves demonstrated that the process of SCN oxidation occurs at water deposition potentials and is controlled by the mass transfer of the substrate to the electrode surface. It is shown that the oxidation efficiency of thiocyanates and the specific electric energy expenditure depend on the current density and on the method by which the process is performed. At a current density of 8 mA cm−2, more than 90% of thiocyanates is oxidized to CNO, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen with a specific energy expenditure of 26.3 kW h kg−1 SCN.