Method for producing liquid organic fuels and hydrogen
A method for producing organic liquid fuels and other valuable products in which an organic compound is provided to an anode electrode having a metal oxide catalyst disposed on an anode side of an electrolyte membrane, thereby producing an organic liquid fuel and/or other valuable organic product and electrons on the anode side. The electrons are conducted to a cathode electrode disposed on a cathode side of the electrolyte membrane, thereby transforming water provided to the cathode side to H 2 gas and hydroxide ions. The method is carried out at a temperature less than or equal to about 160° C., preferably at room temperature.
1. A method for producing an organic product and hydrogen comprising the steps of:
providing an organic compound selected from the group consisting of alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, and aromatics to an anode electrode comprising a M(OH) 2 metal oxide catalyst disposed on an anode side of an electrolyte membrane, producing a liquid oxygen-containing organic product and a plurality of electrons on said anode side;
conducting said plurality of electrons to a cathode electrode disposed on a cathode side of said electrolyte membrane, thereby transforming water provided to said cathode side to H 2 and hydroxide ions;
transferring the hydroxide ions through the electrolyte membrane to the anode side, thereby regenerating the metal oxide catalyst by the following chemical reactions:
2OH − →½O 2 +H 2 O+2 e −
M + +½O 2 →MO +
MO + +OH − →MO + OH − ;
wherein the method is performed continuously by applying an electrical current to electrochemically regenerate the metal oxide catalyst, and
wherein the producing of a liquid oxygen-containing organic product and a plurality of electrons on said anode side and the transforming of water provided to said cathode side to H 2 and hydroxide ions are carried out at a temperature less than or equal to about 160° C.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said steps are carried out at room temperature.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said liquid oxygen-containing organic product comprises a liquid fuel.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein said liquid fuel is an alcohol selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol, and mixtures thereof.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said organic compound is oxidized.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said organic compound is oxidized producing an organic material selected from the group consisting of alcohols, aldehydes, and organic acids.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said metal oxide catalyst comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of Mo, Pt, Fe, Mn, Ni, and combinations thereof.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said electrolyte membrane comprises an alkaline electrolyte.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein said electrolyte membrane comprises a porous polymer layer containing said alkaline electrolyte.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein said alkaline electrolyte is provided to said porous polymer layer from said cathode side of said electrolyte membrane.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein said cathode electrode comprises a H 2 evolution catalyst.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein said H 2 evolution catalyst comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of Group VIII metals of the Periodic Table and combinations thereof.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the organic compound is an unsaturated hydrocarbon.
14. A method for producing an organic product and hydrogen, the method comprising:
providing an organic compound selected from the group consisting of alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, and aromatics to an anode electrode comprising a M(OH) 2 metal oxide catalyst disposed on an anode side of an electrolyte membrane, producing a liquid oxygen-containing organic fuel product and a plurality of electrons on said anode side, and wherein the liquid oxygen-containing organic fuel product is recovered from the anode side without requiring gas separation;
conducting said plurality of electrons to a cathode electrode comprising a H 2 evolution catalyst disposed on a cathode side of said electrolyte membrane, thereby transforming water provided to said cathode side to 1-12 and hydroxide ions, and
transferring the hydroxide ions through said electrolyte membrane to said anode side, thereby regenerating said metal oxide catalyst by the following chemical reactions:
2OH − →½O 2 +H 2 O+2 e −
M + +½O 2 →MO +
MO + +OH − →MO + OH − ;
wherein the method is performed continuously by applying an electrical current to electrochemically regenerate the metal oxide catalyst, and
wherein the producing of a liquid oxygen-containing organic fuel product and a plurality of electrons on said anode side and the transforming of water provided to said cathode side to H 2 and hydroxide ions are carried out at a temperature less than or equal to about 160° C.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the organic compound is an unsaturated hydrocarbon.