Catalyst Revitalization for Oxocarbon Electrolyzer

A method for operating an oxocarbon electrolysis reactor comprising:

• supplying a cathode area of the oxocarbon electrolysis reactor with an oxocarbon species as a reduction substrate for a reduction reaction, wherein the reduction reaction uses a catalyst in the cathode area of the oxocarbon electrolysis reactor;
• supplying an anode area of the oxocarbon electrolysis reactor with an oxidation substrate for an oxidation reaction;
• valorizing the oxocarbon species into a useful species in a valorization process, wherein the valorization process includes the reduction reaction and the oxidation reaction;
• and
• supplying an oxidant to the cathode area of the oxocarbon electrolysis reactor in a revitalization process, whereby the oxidant revitalizes the catalyst;
• wherein the oxocarbon electrolysis reactor is a carbon monoxide electrolysis reactor and the oxidant is one of:
• air, O2, O3, H2, Cl2, H2O2, Br2, I2, F2, and H2S2O8.

A method for operating an oxocarbon electrolysis reactor comprising:

• supplying a cathode area of the oxocarbon electrolysis reactor with an oxocarbon species as a reduction substrate for a reduction reaction;
• supplying an anode area of the oxocarbon electrolysis reactor with an oxidation substrate for an oxidation reaction;
• valorizing the oxocarbon species into a useful species in a valorization process, wherein the valorization process includes the reduction reaction and the oxidation reaction;
• and
• supplying an oxidant to the cathode area of the oxocarbon electrolysis reactor in a revitalization process for a catalyst of the oxocarbon electrolysis reactor, wherein the revitalization process comprises:
• (i) shutting down the oxocarbon electrolysis reactor;
• (ii) supplying the oxidant to the cathode area while the oxocarbon electrolysis reactor is shut down;
• and (iii) pressurizing the cathode area to a pressure while the oxidant is in the cathode area;
• wherein the oxocarbon electrolysis reactor is a carbon monoxide electrolysis reactor and the oxidant is one of:
• air, O2, O3, H2, Cl2, H2O2, Br2, I2, F2, and H2S2O8.