Molten Carboxylate Electrolytes for Electrochemical Decarboxylation Processes
AssigneeCeramatec, Inc.
InventorsJames Mosby, Sai Bhavaraju
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Abstract
Molten salt electrolytes are described for use in electrochemical synthesis of hydrocarbons from carboxylic acids. The molten salt electrolyte can be used to synthesize a wide variety of hydrocarbons with and without functional groups that have a broad range of applications. The molten salt can be used to synthesize saturated hydrocarbons, diols, alkylated aromatic compounds, as well as other types of hydrocarbons. The molten salt electrolyte increases the selectivity, yield, the energy efficiency and Coulombic efficiency of the electrochemical conversion of carboxylic acids to hydrocarbons while reducing the cell potential required to perform the oxidation.
Claims20
An electrochemical cell comprising:
- an electrolyte compartment with a quantity of electrolyte, the electrolyte comprising a quantity of an inorganic salt of a carboxylic acid dissolved in a molten salt electrolyte;
- an anode in communication with the electrolyte;
- a cathode in communication with the electrolyte;
- and
- a voltage source that decarboxylates the metal salt of the carboxylic acid into radicals that react to form at least one radical coupling product.
An electrochemical cell comprising:
- an anolyte compartment housing an anolyte comprising a inorganic salt of a carboxylic acid dissolved in a molten salt electrolyte;
- an anode in communication with the anolyte;
- a catholyte compartment capable of housing a quantity of catholyte;
- a cathode in communication with the catholyte;
- a membrane separating the anolyte and catholyte compartments;
- and
- a voltage source.
A method for producing a coupled radical product, comprising:
- providing a inorganic salt of a carboxylic acid;
- contacting the salt of a carboxylic acid with a molten salt electrolyte
- applying a voltage to the electrolyte and carboxylate salt.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.