Cell concept for using non-ionically conductive extraction media

1 . An apparatus for electrolysis of CO 2 and/or CO, comprising:

a cathode space comprising a cathode gas space and a cathode, wherein the cathode is designed to convert CO 2 and/or CO from the cathode gas space to at least one first cathode product, wherein the cathode preferably takes the form of a gas diffusion electrode;

at least one first gas feed which is connected to the cathode gas space and is designed to supply the cathode gas space with a first gas stream comprising CO 2 and/or CO;

a first ion exchange membrane which contains an anion exchanger and adjoins the cathode space, wherein the cathode makes contact with the first ion exchange membrane;

an anode space comprising an anode;

an extraction space which is disposed between the first ion exchange membrane and the anode space, wherein the extraction space comprises a porous, ion-conducting solid-state electrolyte that makes at least partial contact with the first ion exchange membrane, wherein the first ion exchange membrane is configured to admit the at least one first cathode product at least partly into an adjacent extraction space and/or to convey it into the extraction space;

wherein an extraction medium has been incorporated in the extraction space, wherein the extraction medium comprises water in an amount of 0% to 50% by weight and at least one organic solvent, wherein the extraction medium is designed to at least partly extract the at least one first cathode product and/or if appropriate at least one first product formed by reaction from the at least one first cathode product, and wherein the extraction medium is not an ion-conducting medium;

at least one first feed for the extraction medium, which is designed to supply the extraction space with the extraction medium; and

at least one first drain for the extraction medium, which is designed to drain off the extraction medium comprising at least to some degree the at least one first cathode product and/or if appropriate the at least one first product.

2 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

a first separator disposed between the anode space and the extraction space, wherein the porous, ion-conducting solid-state electrolyte makes at least partial contact with the first separator.

3 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 ,

wherein the first ion exchange membrane has a conductivity of 20 mS/cm or more.

4 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 ,

wherein the porous, ion-conducting solid-state electrolyte has a conductivity of 20 mS/cm or more.

5 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 ,

wherein the at least one organic solvent is selected from alcohols having 1 to 15 carbon atoms, esters having 2 to 15 carbon atoms, and/or ethers and/or polyethers having 2 to 15 carbon atoms.

6 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 ,

wherein the porous, ion-conducting solid-state electrolyte is a cation exchange resin, an anion exchange resin and/or a resin having cation-exchanging and anion-exchanging groups.

7 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 ,

wherein the at least one first feed for the extraction medium and the at least one first drain for the extraction medium are connected such that the extraction medium can be circulated, further optionally comprising a withdrawal apparatus for the at least one first cathode product and/or if appropriate the at least one first product.

8 . A method of electrolysis of CO 2 and/or CO in an electrolysis cell comprising

a cathode space comprising a cathode gas space and a cathode, wherein the cathode preferably takes the form of a gas diffusion electrode,

a first ion exchange membrane which contains an anion exchanger and adjoins the cathode space, where the cathode makes contact with the first ion exchange membrane;

an anode space comprising an anode;

an extraction space which is disposed between the first ion exchange membrane and the anode space, wherein the extraction space comprises a porous, ion-conducting solid-state electrolyte that makes at least partial contact with the first ion exchange membrane and wherein an extraction medium has been incorporated in the extraction space, wherein the extraction medium comprises water in an amount of 0% to 50% by weight and at least one organic solvent, and wherein the extraction medium is not an ion-conducting medium,

the method comprising:

feeding the extraction medium through at least one first feed for the extraction medium into the extraction space;

introducing a first gas stream comprising CO 2 and/or CO into the cathode gas space in such a way that the CO 2 and/or CO comes into contact with the cathode;

converting CO 2 and/or CO at the cathode to at least one first cathode product;

admitting or transferring the at least one first cathode product to the extraction space;

optionally converting the at least one first cathode product to at least one first product in the extraction space;

at least partly extracting the at least one first cathode product and/or if appropriate the at least one first product into the extraction medium; and

draining off the extraction medium comprising, at least to some degree, the at least one first cathode product and/or if appropriate the first product from the extraction space via at least one first drain for the extraction medium.

9 . The method as claimed in claim 8 ,

wherein there is a first separator disposed between the anode space and the extraction space,

wherein the porous, ion-conducting solid-state electrolyte makes at least partial contact with the first separator.

10 . The method as claimed in claim 8 ,

wherein the first ion exchange membrane has a conductivity of 20 mS/cm or more, preferably 50 mS/cm or more, further preferably 100 mS/cm or more, and/or 300 mS/cm or less, preferably 200 mS/cm or less.

11 . The method as claimed in claim 8 ,

wherein the porous, ion-conducting solid-state electrolyte has a conductivity of 20 mS/cm or more, preferably 50 mS/cm or more, further preferably 100 mS/cm or more, and/or 300 mS/cm or less, preferably 200 mS/cm or less.

12 . The method as claimed in claim 8 ,

wherein the at least one organic solvent is selected from alcohols having 1 to 15 carbon atoms, esters having 2 to 15 carbon atoms, and/or ethers and/or polyethers having 2 to 15 carbon atoms.

13 . The method as claimed in claim 8 ,

wherein the porous, ion-conducting solid-state electrolyte is a cation exchange resin, an anion exchange resin and/or a resin having cation-exchanging and anion-exchanging groups.

14 . The method as claimed in claim 8 ,

wherein the at least one first feed for the extraction medium and the at least one first drain for the extraction medium are connected such that the extraction medium can be circulated, wherein the extraction medium is circulated, optionally wherein the at least one first cathode product and/or if appropriate the at least one first product is at least partly withdrawn via a withdrawal apparatus.

15 . The method as claimed in claim 8 ,

wherein the at least one first cathode product and/or if appropriate the at least one first product is concentrated in the extraction medium.

16 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 ,

wherein the extraction medium comprises a conductivity of 50 mS/cm or less.

17 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 ,

wherein the porous, ion-conducting solid-state electrolyte comprises a polymer resin.

18 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 ,

wherein the extraction medium comprises water in an amount of 0% to 10% by weight.

19 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 ,

wherein the first ion exchange membrane has a conductivity of at least 100 mS/cm and at most 200 mS/cm.

20 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 ,

wherein the porous, ion-conducting solid-state electrolyte has a conductivity of at least 100 mS/cm and at most 200 mS/cm.