JPWO2020131837A5 - - Google Patents

Claims (23)

A method for using a carbon-containing material to produce a carbon product containing one or more carbon atoms (the C1+ product), comprising:
(a) directing an electrolyte solution comprising said carbon-containing material through an electrochemical system comprising (i) an anode, (ii) a cathode comprising a catalyst, and (iii) a membrane comprising pores to convert said electrolyte solution to said cathode; wherein the anode and the cathode are in electrical communication with each other through the electrolyte solution;
(b) using the cathode to reduce the carbon-containing material in the electrolyte solution to produce the C1+ product;
(c) directing the C1+ product through the membrane; and (d) recovering the C1+ product from the electrochemical system;
method including. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the carbon-containing material comprises carbon monoxide (CO) and/or carbon dioxide (CO2). 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said anode comprises said catalyst(s). 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrolyte solution comprises aqueous species resulting from interaction of the carbon-containing material with water. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein said aqueous species comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of bicarbonate, carbonate and formate ions. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to (a), introducing the carbon-containing material into water using a gas contactor. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the gas contactor comprises one or more nanomaterials selected from the group consisting of carbon nanotubes, carbon nanospheres, carbon nano-onions, graphene and porous pyrolytic carbon. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the film comprises one or more materials selected from the group consisting of carbon nanotubes, carbon nanospheres, carbon nano-onions, graphene and porous pyrolytic carbon. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein said membrane further comprises a catalyst. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the catalyst comprises metal nanoparticles. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein said metal nanoparticles comprise metals selected from the group consisting of copper, nickel, platinum, iridium, ruthenium, palladium, tin, silver and gold. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said catalyst(s) is/are N-doped. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said anode and said cathode are in electrical communication through said electrolyte solution to a voltage source, said voltage source comprising a renewable power source. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the renewable power source comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of photovoltaic, wind power, geothermal power, hydropower, tidal power and nuclear power. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising introducing the carbon-containing material into the electrochemical system by using an electrochemically generated hydroxide. 2. The process of claim 1, wherein said recovering said C1+ product in (d) is performed in the absence of a distillation unit. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said electrochemical system further comprises an ion exchange membrane configured to minimize the distance between said cathode and said anode. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the C1+ product is recovered from the electrochemical reduction system with a one-pass selectivity of at least about 70%. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said C1+ product comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, propanol and butanol. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the pores have diameters of about 5 microns or less. 11. The electrochemical system separates a first compartment and a second compartment, said first compartment being in fluid communication with said second compartment via said pores of said membrane. 1. The method according to 1. 22. The method of claim 21, wherein (b) occurs within the first chamber and (d) occurs within the second chamber. 23. The method of claim 22, wherein said C1+ product is directed from said first compartment to said second compartment through said pores of said membrane.