Acrylonitrile Electrolyte Composition to Suppress Oxygen Evolution

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electrolytic methods for producing adiponitrile from acrylonitrile face safety risks due to the formation of explosive gas mixtures from oxygen and hydrogen, and hexanetricarbonitrile is treated as waste, despite its high value.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a specific electrolyte solution composition including a supporting electrolyte, electrode protector, complexing agent, quaternary ammonium salt, and easily oxidizable substances like methanol to suppress oxygen evolution, enhance reaction stability, and improve safety.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If diaphragm-free electrolysis of acrylonitrile is performed, then production process is simplified and productivity is improved, but explosive gas mixtures are generated creating safety hazards

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction efficiencyVSAvoidexplosive gas mixture risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful oxygen evolution reaction into a beneficial process by introducing easily oxidizable substances (methanol, ethanol, acetaldehyde, acetic acid, oxalic acid, glyoxal, ethylene glycol, or glycerol) that preferentially oxidize at the anode. This eliminates explosive oxygen-hydrogen mixtures while the oxidation products (CO2, H2O, or carboxylic acids) are harmless or valuable, thus converting a safety hazard into a safe or beneficial process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The easily oxidizable substances act as intermediaries between the anode and the main reaction system. These substances are introduced into the electrolyte and selectively oxidized at the anode surface, mediating the electrochemical process to prevent direct water oxidation that会产生 explosive oxygen, while still enabling the cathodic reduction of acrylonitrile to proceed efficiently

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If easily oxidizable substances are added to suppress oxygen evolution, then safety is improved and energy consumption is reduced, but electrolyte composition becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereaction safetyVSAvoidelectrolyte composition complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the electrolyte by introducing specific easily oxidizable substances at controlled concentrations (0.1-5.0 mol/L as specified in the patent). This parameter change transforms the anode reaction pathway from water oxidation to substrate oxidation, improving safety and energy efficiency while maintaining manageable electrolyte complexity through defined concentration ranges

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of substance

If hexanetricarbonitrile is produced as a by-product, then resource utilization is improved, but separation and purification difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewaste utilizationVSAvoidseparation process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies multi-functionality by designing an electrolysis process that simultaneously produces two valuable products (adiponitrile and hexanetricarbonitrile) from a single reaction system. The easily oxidizable substances serve multiple functions: suppressing oxygen evolution, reducing cell voltage, and enabling co-production of valuable nitriles, thereby converting what would be waste into additional valuable product

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The method co-produces adiponitrile and hexanetricarbonitrile safely, reduces energy consumption, and lowers production costs by inhibiting oxygen generation and optimizing electrolytic conditions.

Implementation Method 1

mixing acrylonitrile with an electrolyte solution and then performing electrolytic reduction to obtain the adiponitrile and the hexanetricarbonitrile

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrolytic reduction: Electrolysis

Implementation Method 2

by adding easily oxidizable substances, such as methanol, the present disclosure reduces the anode oxidation potential, suppresses oxygen generation, inhibits the occurrence of oxygen evolution reactions

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOxidation: Oxidation

Data Source

PatentUS20260062817A1Method for electrolytic reduction of acrylonitrile to produce adiponitrile and hexanetricarbonitrile
Publication Date: 2026.03.05 INNER MONGOLIA HEZHENG NEW MATERIALS CO LTD

AI summary

A method for electrolytic reduction of acrylonitrile to produce adiponitrile and hexanetricarbonitrile is provided. The method for the electrolytic reduction of the acrylonitrile to produce the adiponitrile and the hexanetricarbonitrile includes following steps: mixing acrylonitrile with an electrolyte solution and then performing electrolytic reduction to obtain the adiponitrile and the hexanetricarbonitrile, where components of the electrolyte solution includes: a supporting electrolyte, an electrode protector, a complexing agent, a quaternary ammonium salt, and an easily oxidizable substance.