ELECTROCHEMISTRY IN INDUSTRY

The use of electrochemistry in industry is affected by the price of electricity and its ease of supply, principally in cases where there is an alternative production method. For this reason large-scale energy-intensive electrolysis processes such as metal extraction have developed where electricity can be generated at low cost. This criterion is more 

---

U. Landau, E. Yeager, and D. Kortan, eds.. Electrochemistry in Industry, Plenum Press, New York, 1982. 

Recent Work in the Area of Organic Electrochemistry in Industry... 

In the third part of the book areas in which there are important applications of electrochemistry are described. Chapters 13 and 14 look at potentiometric and amperometric/voltammetric sensors respectively, focusing particularly on recent developments such as new electrode materials and miniaturization. Electrochemistry in industry, which produces many materials used directly or indirectly in everyday life, as well as batteries, is described in Chapter 15. The electrochemical phenomenon... 

U Landau, E Yeager, D Kortan, eds. Electrochemistry in Industry. New York Plenum, 1982. 

There is a fifth reason for the slow development of organic electrochemistry in industry ... 

It is significant that this point has been forgotten by the authors. Here probably lies the most important reason for the difficulties or organic electrochemistry in industry. Although the electron is one of the most versatile and one of the cheapest redox agents [2,4], chemists usually favor other alternatives. 

J. O M. Bockris, B. E. Conway, and E. Yeager, Eds., Comprehensive Treatise of Electrochemistry, Plenum Press, New York, 1983, Vols. 3 and 7 see also E. Yeager, Proceedings of Workshop on Renewable Fuels and Advanced Power Sources for Transportation, Boulder, Col., June 17, 1982, p. 27, Department of Energy, Washington, D.C. and E. Yeager, in Electrochemistry in Industry, Ed. by U. Landau, E. Yeager, and D. Kortan, Plenum Press, New York, 1982, p. 29. 

This special interdisciplinary position of electrochemistry led, on one side, to its development as an almost independent branch of science, on the other hand has caused a certain isolation of electrochemistry from chemistry, where its roots come from. This isolation can be for example demonstrated at universities as well as on the position of electrochemistry in industry. Very few universities teach a proper course of electrochemistry, and if so, then mainly oriented toward electroanalytical applications or as a minor part of physical chemistry. 

The application of organic electrochemistry in industry is not equally broad compared to the number of publications [10]. This is an obvious statement and true for synthesis methods in general. Not every chemical method or reaction gets applied in industry. In addition, it has to be emphasized that it is more than difficult to judge from publications and patents if an electrolysis or generally speaking a reaction is actually applied in industry because of the protection of intellectual property. 

---