The adsorption and oxidation of acetaldehyde on platinum electrode in aqueous HCl and H2SO4 solns. were studied using cyclic voltammetry and in-situ FTIR reflection-absorption spectroscopy. Experimental results showed that the adsorption mode I becomes predominant with increasing electrode potential. The oxidation of acetaldehyde to acetic acid was also observed The orientation of acetic acid was suggested to be mode II. For H2SO4 solution, the adsorption of sulfate ions on electrode surface was indicated by spectral data.

Key words: OXIDATION, ABSORPTION SPECTROMETRY, ELECTRODE, PLATINUM, INFRARED SPECTROPHOTOMETRY, ACETALDEHYDE, ADSORPTION, ACETIC ACID, ELECTROCHEMICAL REACTION, FOURIER TRANSFORM