The anodic oxidation of methanol on Pt electrode in 1 mol/L LiClO~4 methanol solution was studied by use of voltammetry and in situ FTIR transmission differential spectroscopy method. A minigrid Pt optically transparent thin layer electrode was used as working electrode. The differential spectra were obtained between the sample potential and the background potential. The variations of transmission differential spectra at different potentials reflected the oxidation process carried out at the electrode surface. It was found that methanol could be oxidized into formaldehyde, and it could be further oxidized into methyl formate at higher potential in water free solution.

Key words: METHANOL, ANODIC OXIDATION, FORMIC ETHER