Electrochemical and photoelectrochemical reduction of furfurals
AssigneeWisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
InventorsKyoung-Shin Choi, John James Roylance
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Electrochemical cells and photoelectrochemical cells for the reduction of furfurals are provided. Also provided are methods of using the cells to carry out the reduction reactions. Using the cells and methods, furfurals can be converted into furan alcohols or linear ketones.
Claims25
A method for the electrochemical reduction of a furfural to a furan alcohol in an electrochemical cell comprising:
- an anode in an anode electrolyte solution;
- and a cathode in a cathode electrolyte solution, wherein the cathode electrolyte solution comprises a furfural and the cathode comprises a material that is catalytically active for the reduction of the furfural to the furan alcohol, the method comprising:
- creating a potential difference between the anode and the cathode to provide a flow of electrons from the anode to the cathode, wherein the electrons at the cathode undergo reduction reactions with the furfural to form the furan alcohol at a yield of at least 80%.
A method for the photoelectrochemical reduction of a furfural to a furan alcohol in a photoelectrochemical cell comprising:
- an anode in an anode electrolyte solution;
- and a cathode in a cathode electrolyte solution comprising a furfural, wherein at least one of the anode and the cathode is a photoelectrode comprising a semiconductor, the method comprising:
- exposing the at least one photoelectrode to radiation that is absorbed to produce electron-hole pairs, wherein electrons are transported to the electrolyte-cathode interface where they undergo reduction reactions with the furfural to form the furan alcohol and holes are transported to the electrolyte-anode interface where they induce an oxidation reaction.
A method for the conversion of furfurals using an electrochemical cell comprising:
- an anode in an anode electrolyte solution;
- and a cathode comprising zinc in an acidic cathode electrolyte solution comprising a furfural, the method comprising:
- creating a potential difference between the anode and the cathode to provide a flow of electrons from the anode to the cathode, wherein the electrons at the cathode undergo reduction reactions with the furfural to form a linear ketone.
A method for the photoelectrochemical reduction of a furfural to a linear ketone in a photoelectrochemical cell comprising:
- an anode in an anode electrolyte solution;
- and a cathode comprising zinc in an acidic cathode electrolyte solution comprising a furfural, wherein at least one of the anode and the cathode is a photoelectrode comprising a semiconductor, the method comprising:
- exposing the at least one photoelectrode to radiation that is absorbed to produce electron-hole pairs, wherein electrons are transported to the electrolyte-cathode interface where they undergo reduction reactions with the furfural to form the linear ketone and holes are transported to the electrolyte-anode interface where they induce an oxidation reaction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.