Electrochemical production of partially oxidized organic compounds
AssigneeInstitute of Gas Technology
InventorsLeonard G. Marianowski, Karl S. Vorres
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A process for the selective production of partially oxidized organic compounds at the catalytic anode of a fuel cell wherein oxide anions formed at the fuel cell cathode by ionization of oxygen containing gas are transported by a molten salt oxygen containing electrolyte to the catalytic anode where selective partial oxidation of organic compounds is facilitated by the catalytic anode. Suitable catalytic anodes include catalysts selected from elements of the Periodic Table appearing in a group selected from the group consisting of Group IB, IIB, IIIA, VB, VIB, VIIB and VIII, in metallic oxide or cermet form. The process of this invention is particularly useful in the production of methanol by partial oxidation of methane.
Claims23
Process for direct electrochemical partial oxidation of gaseous organic hydrocarbons in a molten salt, oxygen containing, anion conducting electrolyte fuel cell having an anode catalytic to said partial oxidation in an anode compartment and a cathode in a cathode compartment, said catalytic anode and said cathode separated by a molten salt oxygen containing electrolyte and in external electrical communication, said process comprising:
- supplying oxygen containing gas to said cathode compartment and contacting said cathode with said molten salt oxygen containing electrolyte under oxidizing reaction conditions to produce oxygen containing anions:
- transporting said oxygen containing anions through said molten salt oxygen containing electrolyte to said catalytic anode;
- supplying gas consisting essentially of organic hydrocarbon to said anode compartment contacting said catalytic anode with said dry gaseous organic hydrocarbon and oxygen containing anions transported by said electrolyte from said cathode under reaction conditions to produce a partial oxidation product of said organic hydrocarbon, reduced oxygen containing material and electrons;
- passing said electrons from said anode to said cathode through an external electrical communication for charge balance;
- and
- removing said partial oxidation product from said anode compartment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.