Intensified Catalytic Conversion of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) into High Value Chemicals

Grants and Contracts Details

Description

Title: Intensified catalytic conversion of CO2 into high value chemicals Abstract: UKy-CAER is proposing the development of a novel electrochemical catalyst that can be used to directly convert carbon dioxide (CO2) to high value chemicals such as formic acid. UKy-CAER is working to develop a lab-scale proof-of-concept technology where a pressurized solution of CO2 dissolved in water or potassium carbonate can be turned into high value products at high yields. The novelty of this technology involves using pressurization (up to 3 bar) to increase the equilibrium concentration of CO2 in solution. This will be combined with a novel copper catalyst immobilized on a carbon xerogel electrode surface to avoid the use of expensive or rare metals, such as platinum, that limit the economic viability of similar catalysts. The carbon xerogel electrodes are relatively inexpensive with high conductivity, high surface area, and high permeability. Carbon xerogel electrodes also can be easily modified to incorporate and immobilize the catalyst directly onto the surface. This will allow them to be easily incorporated into a flow-through electrochemical reaction cell thereby increasing the production rate and more easily enabling future scale-up of the process. UKy-CAER will investigate strategies to maximize the catalyst’s current density for the production of high value chemicals, including implementation of the carbon xerogel electrode with surface enhancements and catalyst loading, application of the copper catalyst to a batch and flow-through cell configuration, and the evaluation of alternative electrolytes. Laboratory-scale electrochemical cells will be constructed for testing the catalyst with simulated flue gas to evaluate the impact of contaminants and optimize performance.
StatusFinished
Effective start/end date10/1/203/31/23

Funding

  • Department of Energy: $999,984.00

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