Method and system for production of oxalic acid and oxalic acid reduction products

1. A method for producing oxalic acid in an electrochemical cell, the electrochemical cell including a first region having a cathode and a second region having an anode, the method comprising the steps of:

contacting the first region with a catholyte comprising carbon dioxide, an electrolyte and an aprotic solvent;

contacting the second region with an anolyte, the anolyte comprising hydrogen, the electrolyte and the aprotic solvent;

receiving the hydrogen in a gas stream at the second region; and

applying an electrical potential between the anode and the cathode sufficient to produce oxalic acid recoverable from the second region.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the aprotic solvent includes at least one of propylene carbonate, ethylene carbonate, dimethyl carbonate, diethyl carbonate, dimethylsulfoxide, dimethylformamide, acetonitrile, acetone, tetrahydrofuran, N,N-dimethylacetamide, dimethoxyethane, diethylene glycol dimethyl ester, butyrolnitrile, 1,2-difluorobenzene, γ-butyrolactone, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, sulfolane, 1,4-dioxane, nitrobenzene, nitromethane, acetic anhydride, alkanes, cycloalkanes, perfluorocarbons, linear carbonates, aromatics, benzene, toluene, aromatic derivatives, dichloromethane, chloroform, ethers, chlorobenzene, polyols, glymes, diglymes, triglymes, tetraglymes, alcohols, alkenes, trifluorotoluene, anisole, m-cresol, and ionic liquids to include those containing cations: 1,3 dialkyimidazolium, N,N dialkylpyrrolidinium, and 1-alkyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolium, hexafluorophosphate, tetrafluoroborate, bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide, perfluoroalkylphosphate, or halide ions.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the cathode includes at least one of Al, Au, Ag, Bi, C, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Cu 2 O, Cu, Fe, Ga, Hg, In, Mo, Nb, Ni, NiCo 2 O 4 , Ni—Fe, Pb, Pd Pt, Rh, Sn, Ti, V, W, Zn, stainless steel, austenitic steel, ferritic steel, duplex steel, martensitic steel, Nichrome, elgiloy Hastelloy, Hastelloy 276, Hastelloy C, metal carbides or alloys thereof.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein said cathode includes nickel or a nickel alloy.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the electrolyte is at least one of MX, ionic liquids, cetyl trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), hexadecyltributyl phosphonium bromide, or tricaprylmethylammonium chloride (Starks' catalyst), wherein M is Li+, Na+, K+, Ca++, Ba++, Sr++, Mg++, or a R1R2R3R4N+X− wherein each of R1-4 is independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl, branched alkyl, cyclo alkyl, and aryl, tetraalkyl ammonium, tetramethylammonium, tetraethylammonium, tetrabutylammonium, tetraphenylphosphonium, tetrabutylphosphonium, tetraethylphosphonium, tetrahexylammonium, tetraoctylammonium, methyl tributylammonium, butyltrimethylammonium, 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium, 1-ethyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium, di-n-decyldimethylammonium, choline, and ammonium, X is F, Cl, Br, I, BF 4 , PF 6 , ClO 4 , or an anion and mixtures thereof.

6. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising a separator between the first region and the second region, the separator includes one or more of polymeric porous materials, inorganic filtration materials, perfluorinated ionomers, combination hybrid organic-inorganic organic membranes, hydrocarbon based membranes and solid state ion conductors.

7. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

extracting an oxalic acid solution from the second region.

8. The method according to claim 7 , further comprising:

receiving the oxalic acid solution at one of a chromatography device, a nano-filtration device, a solid sorbent amine column or liquid-liquid extractor to produce oxalic acid.

9. The method according to claim 8 , further comprising:

receiving an alcohol at an esterification device; and

receiving the oxalic acid at the esterification device wherein the alcohol and the oxalic acid react to produce a dialkyl oxalate.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the alcohol and the oxalic acid react to produce a dialkyl oxalate in a reactive distillation column.

11. The method according to claim 9 , further comprising:

receiving the dialkyl oxalate at a hydrogenation device wherein a dialkyl oxalate reduction product is produced.

12. The method according to claim 8 , further comprising;

receiving the oxalic acid at a hydrogenation device wherein an oxalic acid reduction product is produced.