Ultrasonic effects on electroorganic processes Part 6. Formation of cupric carboxylates at a reactive copper anode in carboxylic acid solutions

Current efficiency for the formation of highly soluble cupric acetate at a reactive (consumable) copper anode in an acetic acid solution was increased almost independently of current density under ultrasonic irradiation. On the other hand, the efficiency for sparingly soluble cupric oxalate depended complicatedly on current density. At a low current density region less than 4 mA cm(-2), ultrasonic irradiation caused an increase in the current efficiency, while at higher current densities no ultrasonic effect was observed because of the formation of a rigid oxalate film on the anode surface. This paper is the first report of ultrasonic effects on an electrochemical reaction at a reactive (consumable) anode which is stoichiometrically involved in the reaction leading to the formation of products derived from anode metal.