Methods and system for electrochemical production of formic acid from carbon dioxide
AssigneeNitto Denko Corporation
InventorJesse Dan FROEHLICH
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Abstract
The present disclosure provides an electrochemical system for generating formic acid from carbon dioxide. The electrochemical system comprises an electrochemical cell and a power source. The electrochemical cell comprises electrochemical compartments and several ion exchange membranes. Methods for generating formic acid from carbon dioxide is also provided.
Claims22
An electrochemical system for converting CO2 to formic acid by the protonation of formate ions with hydronium ions, wherein the system comprises an electrochemical cell in electrical communication with an electrical energy source, wherein
- the electrochemical cell comprises a cathode compartment, a first central flow compartment, a second central flow compartment and an anode compartment, wherein
- a first anion exchange membrane is interposed between and ionically communicating with the cathode compartment and the first central flow compartment, a second anion exchange membrane is interposed between and ionically communicating with the first central flow compartment and the second central flow compartment, and a cation exchange membrane is interposed between and ionically communicating with the second central flow compartment and the anode compartment, wherein
- the electrical energy source applies a potential difference across the anode and the cathode;
- wherein
- the first central flow compartment has a first central flow compartment inlet and a first central flow compartment outlet, and the second central flow compartment has a second central flow compartment inlet and a second central flow compartment outlet, wherein
- the cathode compartment produces formate from carbon dioxide and the anion compartment produces hydronium ions from water, and wherein
- the configuration of the electrochemical cell defines a fluid flow path, an ionic conduction path, or a combination thereof;
- and wherein
- carrier media are employed to rinse ions from the first central flow compartment into the second central flow compartment, and also to efflux formic acid from the second central flow compartment.
11-12. (canceled)
A method for making formic acid, comprising:
- contacting an electrically active cathode to a CO2 source material to convert CO2 to HCOO−;
- separating the formed HCOO− from the cathode;
- passing the formed HCOO− through a first anion exchange membrane along an ion conduction path;
- passing the formed HCOO− through a first central flow compartment containing an anion exchange material;
- passing the formed HCOO− through a second anion exchange membrane from the first flow compartment into a second central flow compartment along an ion conduction path;
- contacting an electrically active anode to a water source to convert the water source into hydronium ions and hydroxyl ions;
- separating the formed hydronium ions from the anode;
- selectively passing the formed hydronium ions into the second central flow compartment through a cation exchange membrane separating the second central flow compartment from the anode compartment along an ion conduction path;
- forming formic acid in the second central flow compartment with the transported HCOO— from the first central flow compartment and the hydronium ions from the anode compartment, where the HCOO− may be protonated to form formic acid;
- rinsing formic acid present in the first central flow compartment along an independent flow path with a carrier medium;
- and
- removing the formic acid product effluent from the second central flow compartment along the fluid flow path.
(canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.