Electrooxidation of glycerol studied by combined in situ IR spectroscopy and online mass spectrometry under continuous flow conditions

► Glycerol oxidation kinetics/mechanism at Pt electrode under controlled electrolyte flow. ► Simultaneous detection of Faradaic current, volatile products (MS), adsorbed side products (IR). ► Reaction kinetics via spectro-electrochemical adsorption/reaction transients. ► Glyceraldehyde is an intermediate to COad formation and its further oxidation to CO2. ► Glyceric acid is a dead end in the electrochemical oxidation of glycerol.