Electrochemical Oxidation of Organic Matter
AssigneeAic Nevada, Inc.
InventorsRobert Lewis Clarke, John Kerr, Vinoid Nair
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Abstract
Carbonaceous feedstock is at least partially oxidized using a concentrated metal ion solution that is regenerated in an electrochemical hydrogen gas producing process. The at least partially oxidized feedstock and/or hydrogen are then advantageously used as an energy carrier in a downstream process.
Claims20
A method of oxidizing a carbonaceous feedstock, comprising:
- combining a metal and a solubility-enhancing compound to form a metal-containing solution;
- wherein the solubility-enhancing compound is present at a concentration and has a composition effective to increase solubility of the metal over solubility of the same metal in sulfuric acid in an amount of at least 10%;
- wherein the solubility-enhancing compound has a composition effective to resist oxidation under conditions at which the metal is electrochemically oxidized from a reduced form;
- combining the carbonaceous feedstock with the metal-containing solution to thereby at least partially oxidize the feedstock and form the reduced form of the metal;
- optionally electrochemically regenerating the metal from the reduced form of the metal, wherein the step of regenerating is carried out under conditions effective to produce hydrogen;
- and
- using at least one of the hydrogen and the at least partially oxidized feedstock as an energy carrier in a subsequent reaction.
A liquid intermediate in the oxidation of a carbonaceous feedstock comprising (1) an organic acid other than sulfuric acid, (2) a transition metal ion, and (3) a carbonaceous feedstock selected from the group consisting of an oligosaccharide, a polysaccharide, coal, tar, and coke.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.