System and method for enhancing production yield of CO2 conversion products in an electrochemical reactor using an osmotically driven dewatering system

A method for increasing the production of a CO2 conversion product using electrochemical desalination, the method comprising:

• providing a CO2 conversion system comprising an electrochemical cell including a cathode chamber, an anode chamber, and a central desalination chamber, wherein the cathode chamber includes a cathode active material, wherein the anode chamber includes an anode active material, wherein the central desalination chamber includes a plurality of desalination cells including alternating anion exchange membranes (AEMs) and cation exchange membranes (CEMs), and wherein a forward osmosis membrane (FOM) is integrated at an interface between the cathode chamber and a first desalination cell of the plurality of desalination cells, in place of a terminal cation exchange membrane, thereby enhancing an osmotic gradient during electrochemical desalination;
• feeding CO2 gas into the cathode chamber;
• feeding saline water to the desalination chamber;
• and
• producing the CO2 conversion product via electrochemical conversion in the cathode chamber while concurrently desalinating the saline water in the central desalination chamber.