Electrolysis System For The Electrochemical Utilization Of Carbon Dioxide

• US 20180127885A1
• Filed: 05/19/2016
• Published: 05/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2015
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Krause, Ralf, Neubauer, Sebastian, Reller, Christian, Schmid, Guenter, Volkova, Elena
• Application Number:
  US15/574,865
• Publication Number:
  US 20180127885A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 1/00 Electrolytic production of inorganic compounds or non-metals
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 1/04 by electrolysis of water
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 15/08 Supplying or removing reactants or electrolytes; Regeneration of electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 3/25 Reduction
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 9/19 with diaphragms
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/36 Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to electrolysis. Teachings thereof may be embodied in a reduction method and/or an electrolysis system for electrochemical carbon dioxide utilization. For example, an electrolysis system for carbon dioxide utilization may include: an electrolysis cell with an anode in an anode space, a cathode in a cathode space, and a membrane; a first feed for carbon dioxide into the cathode space, configured to bring the carbon dioxide into contact with the cathode; a proton donor unit; and a second feed for protons configured to bring the protons into the cathode space from the proton donor unit into contact with the cathode.

Claims

1. An electrolysis system for carbon dioxide utilization, the system comprising:

an electrolysis cell with an anode in an anode space, a cathode in a cathode space, and a membrane;

a first feed for carbon dioxide into the cathode space, configured to bring the carbon dioxide into contact with the cathode;

a proton donor unit; and

a second feed for protons configured to bring the protons into the cathode space from the proton donor unit into contact with the cathode.

2. The electrolysis system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the proton donor unit comprises a proton reservoir; and

the second feed comprises a proton-permeable membrane.

3. The electrolysis system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the proton reservoir comprises an acid reservoir holding a Brø

nsted acid.

4. The electrolysis system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the proton-permeable membrane comprises sulfonated polytetrafluoroethylene.

5. The electrolysis system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the cathode space includes a catholyte/carbon dioxide mixture; and

the catholyte comprises at least one of carbonate, hydrogencarbonate anions, or dihydrogen carbonate.

6. The electrolysis system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the anode space includes a proton reservoir.

7. The electrolysis system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a first membrane and a second membrane;

wherein the first membrane is arranged between the anode and cathode;

the second membrane is arranged between the cathode and proton reservoir; and

the second membrane is proton-permeable.

8. The electrolysis system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cathode space comprises a catholyte gap extending along the cathode;

Wherein the catholyte gap has an extent at right angles to a surface area of the cathode of not more than 5 mm.

9. The electrolysis system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cathode space comprises a catholyte gap separating the cathode and membrane;

wherein the cathode and the membrane are arranged at a distance of not more than 5 mm from one another.

10. The electrolysis system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cathode space comprises two catholyte gaps arranged on either side of the cathode, each of which is bounded by a membrane;

wherein the cathode and membranes are each independently arranged at a maximum distance of 5 mm from one another.

11. The electrolysis system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the proton donor unit comprises a proton donor cathode and a proton-permeable cathode integrated therein.

12. A reduction method for carbon dioxide utilization, the method comprising:

introducing

a catholyte/carbon dioxide mixture into a cathode space and into contact with a cathode disposed in the cathode space; and

lowering a pH of the catholyte/carbon dioxide mixture in the cathode space by providing additional protons from a proton donor unit.

13. The reduction method as claimed in claim 12, wherein lowering the pH of the catholyte/carbon dioxide mixture occurs at a liquid/solid phase interface from the catholyte/carbon dioxide mixture to the cathode;

and

further comprising providing the protons via a proton-permeable membrane or a proton-permeable cathode at a liquid/solid phase interface from the catholyte/carbon dioxide mixture to the cathode.

14. The reduction method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising supplying the protons from a proton reservoir comprising an acid reservoir including a Brø

nsted acid (HX).

15. The reduction method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the catholyte includes carbonate and/or hydrogencarbonate anions.