CA2428200A1 - Electrochemical process for oxidation of alkanes to alkenes - Google Patents

Electrochemical process for oxidation of alkanes to alkenes Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2428200A1
CA2428200A1 CA002428200A CA2428200A CA2428200A1 CA 2428200 A1 CA2428200 A1 CA 2428200A1 CA 002428200 A CA002428200 A CA 002428200A CA 2428200 A CA2428200 A CA 2428200A CA 2428200 A1 CA2428200 A1 CA 2428200A1
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Canada
Prior art keywords
alkane
pressure
metal catalyst
oxygen
anode
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Granted
Application number
CA002428200A
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French (fr)
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CA2428200C (en
Inventor
Karl T. Chuang
Alan R. Sanger
Jingli Luo
Stefan V. Slavov
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University of Alberta
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Individual
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Priority claimed from CA002325768A external-priority patent/CA2325768A1/en
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Priority to CA002428200A priority Critical patent/CA2428200C/en
Publication of CA2428200A1 publication Critical patent/CA2428200A1/en
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Publication of CA2428200C publication Critical patent/CA2428200C/en
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/10—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes
    • H01M8/1004—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes characterised by membrane-electrode assemblies [MEA]
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25B—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25B3/00—Electrolytic production of organic compounds
    • C25B3/20—Processes
    • C25B3/23—Oxidation
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25B—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25B5/00—Electrogenerative processes, i.e. processes for producing compounds in which electricity is generated simultaneously
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M4/00—Electrodes
    • H01M4/86—Inert electrodes with catalytic activity, e.g. for fuel cells
    • H01M4/8605—Porous electrodes
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M4/00—Electrodes
    • H01M4/86—Inert electrodes with catalytic activity, e.g. for fuel cells
    • H01M4/90—Selection of catalytic material
    • H01M4/92—Metals of platinum group
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H01M8/04082—Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration
    • H01M8/04186—Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration of liquid-charged or electrolyte-charged reactants
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/10—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes
    • H01M8/1009—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes with one of the reactants being liquid, solid or liquid-charged
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02E60/30—Hydrogen technology
    • Y02E60/50—Fuel cells

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Electrochemistry (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • Sustainable Energy (AREA)
  • Metallurgy (AREA)
  • Organic Low-Molecular-Weight Compounds And Preparation Thereof (AREA)

Abstract

An electrochemical process for the oxidation of an alkane to at least one corresponding alkene uses an electrochemical cell having an anode chamber on one side of a proton conducting medium, and a cathode chamber on the other side of the said medium. The alkane is oxidized in the anode chamber to produce at least one corresponding alkene and protons are transferred through a proton conducting membrane to the cathode chamber where protons combine with a proton acceptor, while generating electricity and water. An apparatus for use in the process is also provided.

Claims (39)

1. An electrochemical process for oxidation of an alkane to a corresponding alkene using an electrochemical cell having an anode chamber having an anode and a cathode chamber having a cathode, the anode chamber and the cathode chamber separated at least in part by a proton conducting medium, said process comprising:
a. providing at least one alkane to the anode chamber;
b. providing an oxygen containing gas to the cathode chamber;
c. passing protons through the said medium from the anode chamber to the cathode chamber whereby at least a portion of the alkane is converted to a corresponding alkene.
2. The electrochemical process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the anode comprises at least one metal catalyst active for activation of the alkane and the anode and cathode are in electrical contact with each other and the process comprises producing electrons during the conversion of the alkane to the alkene and the catalytic cathode comprises at least one metal catalyst active for combination of oxygen with protons and electrons to form water.
3. The electrochemical process as claimed in claim 1 further comprising maintaining the electrochemical cell at a temperature and a pressure that maintains the moisture of said medium.
4. The electrochemical process as claimed in claim 1 further comprising providing the alkane in a gaseous state.
5. The electrochemical process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the alkane is selected from the group consisting of propane, a mixture of propane and at least one inert gas, a mixture of propane and at least one inert liquid, and a mixture of hydrocarbons containing propane, and the process comprises producing propylene as the corresponding alkene.
6. The electrochemical process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the alkane is selected from the group consisting of butane, a mixture of butane and at least one inert gas, a mixture of butane and at least one inert liquid, and a mixture of hydrocarbons containing butane, and the process comprises producing at least one of 1-butene and 2-butene as the corresponding alkene.
7. The electrochemical process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the alkane is selected from the group consisting of a mixture of ethyl benzene and at least one inert gas, a mixture of ethyl benzene and at least one inert liquid, and a mixture of hydrocarbons containing ethyl benzene, and the process comprises producing styrene as the corresponding alkene.
8. The electrochemical process as defined in any one of claims 1-4 wherein the oxygen containing gas is selected from a group consisting of oxygen, a mixture of oxygen and at least one inert gas, and air and the process further comprises combining protons which have passed through the medium and oxygen to produce water.
9. The electrochemical process as defined in any one of claims 1-4 wherein the process is operated at a temperature of at least about 50°C.
10. The electrochemical process as defined in any one of claims 1-4 wherein the process is operated at a temperature in the range of about 50°C
to about 155°C.
11. The electrochemical process as defined in any one of claims 1-6 in which the process is operated at a temperature in the range of about 50°C
to about 100°C.
12. The electrochemical process as defined in claims 1 - 7 in which the process is operated at a pressure of at least atmospheric pressure and below a pressure at which one or more of the alkane and the alkene will condense to form a liquid phase.
13. The electrochemical process as defined in claims 1 - 7 in which the pressure is maintained sufficiently high so as to maintain moistness of the proton-conducting medium.
14. The electrochemical process as defined in claim 5 in which the process is operated at a pressure of at least atmospheric pressure and below a pressure at which one or more of propane and propylene will condense to form a liquid phase, the pressure being sufficiently high so as to maintain the moistness of the proton conducting medium at the operating temperature.
15. The electrochemical process as defined in claim 6 in which the process is operated at a pressure of at least atmospheric pressure and below a pressure at which one or more of butane, and at least one of 1-butene and 2-butene will condense to form a liquid phase, the pressure being sufficiently high so as to maintain the moistness of the proton conducting medium at the operating temperature.
16. The electrochemical process as defined in claim 7 in which the process is operated at a pressure of at least atmospheric pressure and below a pressure at which one or more of ethyl benzene, and styrene will condense to form a liquid phase, the pressure being sufficiently high so as to maintain the moistness of the proton conducting medium at the operating temperature.
17. The electrochemical process as defined in any one of claims 1-7 in which the process is operated at a pressure in the range of about 0.5 atm to about 10 atm.
18. The electrochemical process as defined in any one of claims 1-7 in which the process is operated at about atmospheric pressure.
19. An electrochemical apparatus for oxidation of an alkane to a corresponding alkene comprising:

a) an anode chamber having an inlet, an anode, and an outlet, the inlet connectable in fluid flow communication with a source of alkane, the anode comprising a metal catalyst active for activation of the alkane to form protons and the corresponding alkene, and the outlet connectable with a passageway for withdrawal of the respective alkene from the anode chamber;
b) a cathode chamber having a cathode, the cathode comprising a metal catalyst active for combination of a proton acceptor with protons produced in the anode chamber; and c) a proton conducting medium positioned in fluid flow communication with both the anode chamber and the cathode chamber.
20. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19 wherein the proton acceptor comprises oxygen.
21. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19 wherein the proton acceptor is a gas selected from a group consisting of oxygen, a mixture of oxygen and at least one inert gas, and oxygen is combined with protons that have passed through the medium and oxygen to produce water.
22. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19 wherein the alkane is gaseous.
23. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19 wherein the alkane is a linear molecule or a linear substituent of a cyclic or aromatic molecule.
24. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19 wherein the alkane has a carbon chain length of from 2 to 6 carbon atoms.
25. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19 wherein the proton conducting medium is a solid perfluorosulphonic acid proton conducting membrane.
26. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19 wherein the catalytic anode and the catalytic cathode separately are formed of compressed carbon powder loaded with metal catalyst, the metal catalyst of the catalytic anode
27. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19 wherein the alkane comprises propane and the catalytic anode and the catalytic cathode separately are formed of carbon cloth loaded with metal catalyst, the metal catalyst of the catalytic anode being selected from metal catalysts active for activation of propane, and the metal catalyst of the catalytic cathode being selected from metal catalysts active for combination of oxygen with protons and electrons to form water.
28. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19 wherein the alkane comprises butane and the catalytic anode and the catalytic cathode separately are formed of nickel mesh impregnated with metal catalyst, the metal catalyst of the catalytic anode being selected from metal catalysts active for activation of propane, and the metal catalyst of the catalytic cathode being selected from metal catalysts active for combination of oxygen with protons and electrons to form water.
29. The apparatus as claimed in claims 19 - 28 wherein the metal catalyst active for activation of alkane is selected from the group consisting of platinum, palladium, silver, nickel, cobalt, gold, bismuth, manganese, vanadium, ruthenium, copper, zinc, chromium, iron or indium oxide-stannous oxide mixtures, or any mixtures thereof.
30. The apparatus as claimed in claims 19 - 28 wherein the metal catalyst active for activation of the alkane is selected from the group consisting of nickel, cobalt or a mixture of nickel and cobalt.
31. The apparatus as claimed in claims 19 - 28 wherein the metal catalyst for activation of alkane is selected from the group consisting of platinum, palladium or a mixture of platinum and palladium.
32. The apparatus as claimed in claim 20 or 21 wherein the metal catalyst active for combination of oxygen with protons and electrons to form water is selected from the group consisting of nickel, cobalt, gold, bismuth, manganese, vanadium, ruthenium, copper, zinc, chromium, iron or indium oxide-stannous oxide mixtures, or any mixtures thereof.
33. The apparatus as claimed in claim 20 or 21 wherein the metal catalyst active for combination of oxygen with protons and electrons to form water is selected from the group consisting of nickel, cobalt or a mixture of nickel and cobalt.
34. The apparatus as claimed in claim 20 or 21 wherein the metal catalyst active for combination of oxygen with protons and electrons to form water is selected from the group consisting of platinum, palladium or a mixture of platinum and palladium.
35. The apparatus as claimed in claim any one of claims 19 - 28 wherein the apparatus is operated at a temperature of at least about 50°C.
36. The apparatus as claimed in claim any one of claims 19 - 28 wherein the apparatus is operated at a temperature in the range of about 50°C to about 155°C.
37. The apparatus as claimed in claim any one of claims 19 - 28 wherein the apparatus is operated at a temperature in the range of about 50°C to about 100°C.
38. The apparatus as claimed in claim any one of claims 19 - 28 wherein the process is operated at a pressure of at least atmospheric pressure and below a pressure at which one or more of the alkane and the alkene will condense to form a liquid phase.
39. The apparatus as claimed in claim any one of claims 19 - 28 wherein the pressure is maintained sufficiently high so as to maintain moistness of the proton-conducting medium.
CA002428200A 2000-11-10 2001-11-09 Electrochemical process for oxidation of alkanes to alkenes Expired - Fee Related CA2428200C (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA002428200A CA2428200C (en) 2000-11-10 2001-11-09 Electrochemical process for oxidation of alkanes to alkenes

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA002325768A CA2325768A1 (en) 2000-11-10 2000-11-10 Electrochemical process for oxidation of propane to propylene
CA2,325,768 2000-11-10
PCT/CA2001/001603 WO2002038832A1 (en) 2000-11-10 2001-11-09 Electrochemical process for oxidation of alkanes to alkenes
CA002428200A CA2428200C (en) 2000-11-10 2001-11-09 Electrochemical process for oxidation of alkanes to alkenes

Publications (2)

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CA2428200A1 true CA2428200A1 (en) 2002-05-16
CA2428200C CA2428200C (en) 2010-01-19

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Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8574786B2 (en) 2010-02-09 2013-11-05 The Governors Of The University Of Alberta Anode catalysts for fuel cell membrane reactors
CN113151849A (en) * 2021-03-24 2021-07-23 厦门大学 Method for preparing lactic acid by using propane
US11124466B2 (en) 2019-09-09 2021-09-21 King Fahd University Of Petroleum And Minerals Production of light alkenes from alkane

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8574786B2 (en) 2010-02-09 2013-11-05 The Governors Of The University Of Alberta Anode catalysts for fuel cell membrane reactors
US11124466B2 (en) 2019-09-09 2021-09-21 King Fahd University Of Petroleum And Minerals Production of light alkenes from alkane
CN113151849A (en) * 2021-03-24 2021-07-23 厦门大学 Method for preparing lactic acid by using propane
CN113151849B (en) * 2021-03-24 2024-01-19 厦门大学 Method for preparing lactic acid by using propane

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Publication number Publication date
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