Electrocatalytic method and apparatus for the simultaneous conversion of methane and CO2 to methanol through an electrochemical reactor operating at ordinary temperatures and pressures, including ambient ones

A piezo-electrocatalytic apparatus for the simultaneous conversion of methane and CO2 into methanol, the apparatus comprising:

• an electrochemical reactor configured to operate at a standard ambient temperature and pressure;
• a plurality of zero-gap membrane piezo-electrocatalytic electrodes vertically packed within the electrochemical reactor, wherein each of the electrodes comprising:
• a tubular, mesoporous cathode surface;
• a tubular, mesoporous anode surface coaxial with the cathode surface;
• and
• an ion exchange membrane separating the cathode surface and the anode surface;
• an insulating material filling external gaps between adjacent packed electrodes;
• a power source electrically connected to the electrodes in a parallel circuit;
• an electrolyte comprising an aqueous solution of redox mediators, ionic fractions, water-soluble transition metal complexes, and a co-catalyst, wherein the electrolyte is configured to flow from a bottom portion of the electrodes packed vertically through the cathode surfaces and the anode surfaces to a top portion thereof;
• a gas inlet at bottom of the electrochemical reactor configured to introduce a gas mixture of methane and CO2, wherein the flow of the electrolyte and dissolved gases through the cathode surface and the anode surface is configured to generate a piezopotential that reduces the electrical energy required from the power source, the cathode surface is structured to catalyze the direct, superficial reduction of dissolved CO2 to methanol, and the anode surface is structured to catalyze the direct, superficial oxidation of dissolved methane to methanol.