Mobile atom insertion reaction, mobile atom transmissive membrane for carrying out the reaction, and reactor incorporating the mobile atom transmissive membrane

Abstract

Disclosed is a method of carrying out a mobile atom insertion reaction, such as a hydrogen insertion reaction, for the synthesis of reduced, hydrogenated compounds. Such reactions include the production of ammonia and hydrazine from nitrogen, formic acid and methanol from carbon dioxide, and hydrogen peroxide from oxygen. The insertion reactions are carried out at a bipolar mobile atom transmissive membrane comprising a membrane formed of a mobile atom pump material, as a hydrogen pump material, conductive atom transmissive means on one surface of the membrane and conductive atom transmissive means on the opposite surface of the membrane. The mobile atom, such as hydrogen, diffuses across the membrane, to provide a source of hydrogen on the insertion reaction side of the membrane. The insertion reaction side of the membrane is positively biased with respect to a counterelectrode so that a reactant molecule, such as carbon dioxide, is electrosorbed on that surface of the membrane. The electrosorbed reactant molecule chemically reacts with the surface hydrogen by the insertion reaction to form a reduced, hydrogenated product such as formic acid. Also disclosed is a chemical reactor, containing the membrane, and several electric field assisted chemical reactions utilizing the membrane and reactor.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.