Combined Synthesis of Sodium and Potassium Alkoxides Using Electrochemical Methods

Kudryavtsev Pavel, Kudryavtsev Nikolay

Abstract: The alkoxides of chemical elements form a class of compounds, the practical value of which are large and are growing. In the present work generalizes the experience of creation of small-tonnage chemical production of alkoxides of different chemical elements and their use in technological processes of production of various chemicals and composites. In this paper the authors presented an overview of the main synthetic methods, obtaining alkoxides of chemical elements and, in particular, alkali metal alkoxides. Describe their basic physical and chemical properties. Have been analyzed the main methods of production of alkali metal alkoxides.Four basic methods of synthesis of chemical elements alkoxides have been allocated. Consider the direct methods for the synthesis of metal alkoxides by reaction with alcohols. Also have been considered, options for obtaining chemical elements alkoxides by reacting their oxides and hydroxides, with the corresponding alcohols. To implement this method has been described the functioning, the process plant scheme for obtaining potassium i-butoxide, by azeotropic distillation of water. For alkoxides of chemical elements, has been considered a variant of their synthesis method using exchange reactions with alcohols, and processes such as transesterification. The combined process of electrochemical synthesis, of sodium and potassium alkoxides has been proposed. To slow down the rate of interaction of sodium and potassium with alcohols, their amalgam has been used. The amalgam was prepared by electrolysis of sodium hydroxide. The interaction process alkali metal amalgam flows quietly enough, even in the case of methyl alcohol and potassium amalgam. Technological scheme includes three stages: electrolysis of NaOH solution at ordinary electrolyze with flow mercury cathode; dissolving amalgam on the anode in an alcohol solution and recovering sodium or potassium, in the form of alkoxides.

Keywords: electrochemical synthesis, sodium alkoxide, potassium alkoxide.

Pages: 253 – 264 | Full PDF Paper