Electrolytic Cell for Producing Alkali Alcoholates

An electrolytic cell for producing alkali alcoholates, comprising:

• a catholyte compartment configured with a cathode containing a first solution comprising alkali alcoholate and alcohol, wherein the concentration of the alkali alcoholate in the catholyte compartment is between about 2% by weight and about 28% by weight of the contents of the catholyte compartment and wherein the alcohol comprises at least one alcohol chosen from methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, isopropanol, n-butanol, tert-butanol, and tert-amyl alcohol;
• an anolyte compartment configured with an anode containing a second solution comprising at least one alkali salt;
• a buffer compartment disposed between the anolyte compartment and the catholyte compartment containing a third solution comprising alkali alcoholate, alcohol and alkali salt that provide alkali ion conductivity, wherein the buffer compartment is defined by a first separator disposed between the anolyte compartment and the buffer compartment and by a second separator disposed between the catholyte compartment and the buffer compartment, wherein at least one of the first and second separators comprises a material having the formula M1+xZr2SixP3−xO12 where 0≦x≦3, and where M is Na, K, or Li, and wherein the first solution and the third solution comprise an alkali alcoholate comprising at least one alkali metal chosen from Na, K and Li and mixtures thereof, in alcohol;
• and
• a source of electric potential electrically connected to the cathode and to the anode sufficient to cause alkali ions to pass through the first separator into the buffer compartment and to cause alkali ions from the buffer compartment to diffuse through the second separator into the catholyte compartment and to form alkali alcoholate in the catholyte compartment.

An electrolytic cell for producing alkali alcoholates, comprising:

• a catholyte compartment configured with a cathode containing a first solution comprising alkali alcoholate and alcohol, wherein the concentration of the alkali alcoholate in the catholyte compartment is between about 2% by weight and about 28% by weight of the contents of the catholyte compartment;
• an anolyte compartment configured with an anode containing a second solution comprising at least one alkali salt of MX, where M comprises an alkali metal selected from Na, K, Li, and mixtures thereof, and X comprises at least one anion chosen from:
• F−, Cl−, Br−, I−, OH−, NO3−, NO2−, SO4−2, ClO3−, ClO4−, H3C2O2−, HCO3−, CO3−2, HCOO−, PO4−3, and C6H5O7−3, and mixtures thereof;
• a buffer compartment disposed between the anolyte compartment and the catholyte compartment containing a third solution comprising alkali alcoholate, alcohol and alkali salt that provide alkali ion conductivity, wherein the buffer compartment is defined by a first separator disposed between the anolyte compartment and the buffer compartment and by a second separator disposed between the catholyte compartment and the buffer compartment, wherein at least one of the first and second separators comprises a non-stoichiometric alkali-deficient material having the formula (M5RESi4O12)1−δ(RE2O3.2SiO2)δ, where M is Na, K, or Li, where RE is Nd, Dy, or Sm, or any mixture thereof and where δ is the measure of deviation from stoichiometry, and wherein the alkali alcoholate comprises at least one alkali alcoholate chosen from alkali methoxide, alkali ethoxide, alkali n-propoxide, alkali isopropoxide, alkali n-butoxide, alkali tert-butoxide, and alkali tert-amoxide of sodium, lithium and potassium;
• and
• a source of electric potential electrically connected to the cathode and to the anode sufficient to cause alkali ions to pass through the first separator into the buffer compartment and to cause alkali ions from the buffer compartment to diffuse through the second separator into the catholyte compartment and to form alkali alcoholate in the catholyte compartment.