The voltammetric response of ethanolamine at gold electrodes in alkaline media

Abstract Voltammetric data are described that were obtained at Au electrodes in 0.1 M NaOH for ethanolamine and related compounds using a rotated disk electrode (RDE) and a thin‐layer electrochemical cell (TLEC). The anodic signal for the alcohol group of ethanolamine is much greater than for ethanol at the same concentration. This is attributed to the benefit of pre‐adsorption by the amine group of ethanolamine on the Au surface. Oxidation of the alcohol group of ethanolamine is terminated by formation of surface oxide. However, oxide formation appears to catalyze oxidation of the amine groups of ethanolamine and ethylamine. A value of n = ca. 4.6 eq mol−1 was determined for oxidation of the alcohol group of ethanolamine by exhaustive electrolysis in the TLEC. Glycine is tentatively concluded to be an oxidation product on the basis of n and the result of a chromatographic analysis of the contents of the TLEC following electrolysis at 0.0 V vs. SCE.