A method for reducing carbon dioxide to one or more products is disclosed. The method may include steps (A) to (C). Step (A) may bubble the carbon dioxide into a solution of an electrolyte and a catalyst in a divided electrochemical cell. The divided electrochemical cell may include an anode in a first cell compartment and a cathode in a second cell compartment. The cathode generally reduces the carbon dioxide into the products. Step {B} may vary at least one of (i) which of the products is produced and (ii) a faradaic yield of the products by adjusting one or more of (a) a cathode material and (b) a surface morphology of the cathode. Step (C) may separate the products from the solution.

Reducing carbon dioxide to products

Methods and systems for electrochemical conversion of carbon dioxide to organic products including formate and formic acid are provided. A method may include, but is not limited to, steps (A) to (C). Step (A) may introduce an acidic anolyte to a first compartment of an electrochemical cell. The first compartment may include an anode. Step (B) may introduce a bicarbonate-based catholyte saturated with carbon dioxide to a second compartment of the electrochemical cell. The second compartment may include a high surface area cathode including indium and having a void volume of between about 30% to 98%. At least a portion of the bicarbonate-based catholyte is recycled. Step (C) may apply an electrical potential between the anode and the cathode sufficient to reduce the carbon dioxide to at least one of a single-carbon based product or a multi-carbon based product.

Process and High Surface Area Electrodes for the Electrochemical Reduction of Carbon Dioxide

The invention relates to various embodiments of an environmentally beneficial method for reducing carbon dioxide. The methods in accordance with the invention include electrochemically or photoelectrochemically reducing the carbon dioxide in a divided electrochemical cell that includes an anode, e.g., an inert metal counterelectrode, in one cell compartment and a metal or p-type semiconductor cathode electrode in another cell compartment that also contains an aqueous solution of an electrolyte and a catalyst of one or more substituted or unsubstituted aromatic amines to produce therein a reduced organic product.

Conversion of carbon dioxide to organic products

A method for electrochemical production of synthesis gas from carbon dioxide is disclosed. The method generally includes steps (A) to (C). Step (A) may bubble the carbon dioxide into a solution of an electrolyte and a catalyst in a divided electrochemical cell. The divided electrochemical cell may include an anode in a first cell compartment and a cathode in a second cell compartment. The cathode generally reduces the carbon dioxide into a plurality of components. Step (B) may establish a molar ratio of the components in the synthesis gas by adjusting at least one of (i) a cathode material and (ii) a surface morphology of the cathode. Step (C) may separate the synthesis gas from the solution.

Electrochemical production of synthesis gas from carbon dioxide

Methods and systems for electrochemical conversion of carbon dioxide to carboxylic acids, glycols, and carboxylates are disclosed. A method may include, but is not limited to, steps (A) to (D). Step (A) may introduce water to a first compartment of an electrochemical cell. The first compartment may include an anode. Step (B) may introduce carbon dioxide to a second compartment of the electrochemical cell. The second compartment may include a solution of an electrolyte and a cathode. Step (C) may apply an electrical potential between the anode and the cathode in the electrochemical cell sufficient to reduce the carbon dioxide to a carboxylic acid intermediate. Step (D) may contact the carboxylic acid intermediate with hydrogen to produce a reaction product.

Reduction of carbon dioxide to carboxylic acids, glycols, and carboxylates

An oxalate salt from which oxalic acid may be produced is prepared by the cationic reduction of carbon dioxide in an electrolytic cell wherein the anode and cathode compartments are separated by a porous membrane and the catholyte is an organic solvent. Tetraethylammonium perchlorate, tetraethylammonium bromide, tetrabutylammonium perchlorate, tetrabutylammonium iodide and tetraethylammonium p-toluenesulfonate are the preferred solutes for the catholyte. Coulombic yields as high as 75 percent are obtained where the anolyte is the same electrolyte and solvent as the catholyte while yields as high as 97 percent of sodium oxalate are obtained when aqueous solutions of sodium salts are used as the anolyte.

L Skarlos

Papers

Preparation of oxalic acid

Verfahren zur herstellung von oxalsaeure