Most of our previous studies of electrochemical catalytic
Three microemulsions containing cosurfactant 2-(2-hexyloxyedechlorinations in microemulsions (4-8) were done with thoxy)ethanol, 1% aqueous KBr, dodecane, and either didodecylthe bicontinuous, three-component system made from didodimethylammonium bromide (DDAB) or cetyltrimethylammondecyldimethylammonium bromide (DDAB), dodecane, and ium bromide (CTAB) with conductivities and viscosities approwater (9). While efficient dechlorinations were achieved, priate for electrolytic applications were prepared. These fluids about 20% surfactant is needed to obtain a fluid with suffiwere characterized further by measuring diffusion coefficients of cient conductivity to support electrolyses. Since DDAB is a electrochemical probes and pyrene fluorescence peak ratios charmajor expense of the medium, we wished to explore ways acteristic of polarity and viscosity of the oil phase. A microemulto decrease the surfactant content. Herein, we employ a mesion of DDAB/2-(2-hexyloxyethoxy)ethanol/1% aq. KBr/dodecane (7.3/36/22.7/34 by weight) had the highest conductivity and dium chain length poly(oxyethylene) cosurfactant to delowest viscosity and gave the most positive reduction potential crease surfactant content. Poly(oxyethylenes) were explored for 4,4-dichlorobiphenyl of the four-component fluids examined. because they were reported to be more efficient cosurfactants Electrochemical catalytic reduction of 4,4-dichlorobiphenyl was than the traditional alcohols (10).
done with this fluid, a lead electrode, and zinc phthalocyanine as Efficient mass transport to and from the working electrode catalyst with only a small loss of current efficiency compared to is important for the success of electrolyses. Thus, we aimed at a previously used 3-component 21% DDAB microemulsion. The bicontinuous microemulsions because they feature inherently four-component 7.3% DDAB microemulsion was prepared at half faster mass transport of nonpolar reactants than alternative fluthe cost of the three-component 21% DDAB microemulsion. On ids containing oil droplets (2). Microemulsions were characterthe basis of diffusion, conductivity, and fluorescence studies, the ized by measurements of conductivity, viscosity, diffusion coefstructure of the 7.3% DDAB microemulsion is probably bicontinuficients of electrochemical probes, and fluorescence of disous.