# US 5,705,049 A · Indirect cerium mediated electrosynthesis

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- Number: US 5,705,049 A
- Document ID: US5705049A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/641,227
- Filed: 1996-04-30
- Granted: 1998-01-06
- Earliest claimed: 1992-04-07
- Assignees: Hydro-Quebec
- Inventors: Stephen Harrison
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5705049A

## CPC

- C01B 32/15: Nano-sized carbon materials
- B82Y 30/00: Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
- B82Y 40/00: Manufacture or treatment of nanostructures
- Y02P 20/10: Process efficiency
- C01B: NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; {METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C}
- B82Y: SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MEASUREMENT OR ANALYSIS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF NANOSTRUCTURES
- Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS

## Abstract

An integrated process for oxidizing aromatic and alkyl aromatic compounds to form carbonyl containing reaction products comprising the reaction of quadravalent cerium with a reactant stream containing an aromatic or alkyl aromatic compound and using a high degree of mixing, followed by the electrolytic regeneration of the reduced cerium ion in a cell under near turbulent or turbulent flow conditions at high solution velocities relative to the anode. The preferred cell structure for accomplishing the electrolysis utilizes an turbulence promoting anode arrangement which allows for the anolyte to flow past the anode under the conditions mentioned, and a reduced area cathode whereby the anode and cathode compartments need not be separated by an ion exchange membrane.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A process for oxidizing aromatic and alkyl aromatic reactants to form carbonyl containing reaction products comprising the reaction of quadravalent cerium with said reactants and using a high degree of mixing, comprising the step of reacting said reactants and said cerium in a plug flow reactor containing turbulence promotors.

### Claim 2

An electrochemical cell for oxidizing cerium .sup.III to cerium .sup.IV comprising:
(a) a cell having an anode compartment and a cathode compartment;
(b) means for flowing electrolyte solutions containing cerium .sup.III and cerium .sup.IV through at least said anode compartment;
(b) means for flowing electrolyte solutions containing cerium .sup.III and cerium .sup.IV through at least said anode compartment;
(c) an anode positioned within said anode compartment and means for connecting said anode to a power source;
(d) turbulence promoting means positioned in said anode compartment and adjacent said anode; and
(e) a cathode positioned within said cathode compartment and means for connecting said cathode to power source; and
said cell further including a turbulence promoter positioned on the surface of said anode.

### Claim 3

An electrochemical cell for oxidizing cerium .sup.III to cerium .sup.IV consisting essentially of:
(a) a cell having an anode compartment and a cathode compartment;
(b) means for flowing electrolyte solutions containing cerium .sup.III and cerium .sup.IV through at least said anode compartment;
(c) an anode positioned within said anode compartment and means for connecting said anode to a power source;
(d) turbulence promoting means positioned in said anode compartment and adjacent said anode; and
(e) a reduced area cathode positioned within said cathode compartment and means for connecting said cathode to power source.

### Claim 4

An electrochemical cell for oxidizing cerium .sup.III to cerium .sup.IV comprising:
(a) a cell having an anode compartment and a cathode compartment;
(b) means for flowing electrolyte solutions containing cerium .sup.III and cerium .sup.IV through at least said anode compartment;
(c) an anode positioned within said anode compartment and means for connecting said anode to a power source;
(d) turbulence promoting means positioned in said anode compartment and adjacent said anode; and
(e) a cathode positioned within said cathode compartment and means for connecting said cathode to power source;
wherein said anode consists of a conductive sheet and said turbulence promoter consists of a single sheet of expanded mesh and wherein said anode and said promoter are formed from platinized titanium.