Methods for the electroreduction of carbon dioxide to value added chemicals

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a method of electroreducing carbon dioxide (CO2). The method of electroreducing carbon dioxide may include feeding a first stream comprising carbon dioxide into a chamber through a chamber inlet, the chamber containing a gas diffusion cathode and a gas diffusion anode; feeding a second stream comprising glycerol or glucose into the chamber, the second stream having a pH of 12 to 14; and applying an electrical potential between the gas diffusion anode and the gas diffusion cathode to reduce the carbon dioxide and oxidize the glycerol or glucose.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present patent document claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 546,044, filed on Aug. 16, 2017, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.TECHNICAL FIELD[0002]The present disclosure is related generally to the electroreduction of carbon dioxide and more particularly to a method of electrochemically reducing carbon dioxide and oxidizing glycerol or glucose.BACKGROUND[0003]The global atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations have been on a constant rise in the past few decades, with the daily average value crossing and staying above the 400-ppm mark in 2016, for the first time in recorded human history. The rise in CO2 levels has been correlated to the increase in mean global temperature anomalies (global warming). Thus, developing cost effective technologies that can mitigate, capture, or utilize the excess anthropogenic CO2 emissions remains a grand challenge of the 21s...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes a method of reducing carbon dioxide by using an electrical potential to oxidize glycerol or glucose. The method involves feeding a stream of carbon dioxide into a chamber containing a gas diffusion cathode and a gas diffusion anode, and a stream of glycerol or glucose with a pH of 12 to 14. The application of the electrical potential results in the reduction of carbon dioxide and the oxidation of glycerol or glucose. This method has technical effects towards the reduction of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, and the development of novel methods for energy production.

Problems solved by technology

Thus, developing cost effective technologies that can mitigate, capture, or utilize the excess anthropogenic CO2 emissions remains a grand challenge of the 21st century.

However, for a majority of these solutions, the associated costs and impact on economic growth is high, resulting in slow global adoption.

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