Studies of Phenol Electrooxidation Performed on Platinum Electrode in Dimethyl Sulphoxide Medium. Determination of Unreacted Phenol by the Effect of 4-vinylbenzenesulphonate on the Electrooxidation Process

The electrooxidation of phenol was studied in the presence of sodium 4-vinylbenzenesulfonate in various quantities. When the sulphonate was dissolved in equal or higher quantities than phenol the peak currents increased gradually and suppression of electropolymerization was observed. When the sulphonate quantity was smaller than that of phenol brown films fouled the electrode. The observed phenomenon was utilized in an analytical procedure namely determination of unreacted phenol in electrolysis solution with linear dynamic range between 0 and 50 mM and 2.96 mM detection limit. The shape of curve became saturated-like above 50 mM.