High pressure electrochemical reduction of CO₂ to formic acid/formate

High pressure electrochemical reduction of CO₂ to formic acid/formate: A comparison between bipolar membranes and cation exchange membranes

Ramdin, M. (TU Delft Engineering Thermodynamics)
Morrison, A.R.T. (TU Delft Large Scale Energy Storage)
de Groen, M. (Coval Energy)
van Haperen, M.C.H. (Coval Energy)
De Kler, Robert (Coval Energy)
van den Broeke, L.J.P. (Coval Energy)
Trusler, J. P.Martin (Imperial College London)
de Jong, W. (TU Delft Large Scale Energy Storage)
Vlugt, T.J.H. (TU Delft Engineering Thermodynamics)

2019

A high pressure semicontinuous batch electrolyzer is used to convert CO₂ to formic acid/formate on a tin-based cathode using bipolar membranes (BPMs) and cation exchange membranes (CEMs). The effects of CO₂ pressure up to 50 bar, electrolyte concentration, flow rate, cell potential, and the two types of membranes on the current density (CD) and Faraday efficiency (FE) for formic acid/formate are investigated. Increasing the CO₂ pressure yields a high FE up to 90% at a cell potential of 3.5 V and a CD of ∼30 mA/cm². The FE decreases significantly at higher cell potentials and current densities, and lower pressures. Up to 2 wt % formate was produced at a cell potential of 4 V, a CD of ∼100 mA/cm², and a FE of 65%. The advantages and disadvantages of using BPMs and CEMs in electrochemical cells for CO₂ conversion to formic acid/formate are discussed.

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:af73613e-3ba4-44c2-b0b3-c091e104903d

https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.iecr.8b04944

0888-5885

Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research, 58 (5), 1834–1847

Institutional Repository

journal article

© 2019 M. Ramdin, A.R.T. Morrison, M. de Groen, M.C.H. van Haperen, Robert De Kler, L.J.P. van den Broeke, J. P.Martin Trusler, W. de Jong, T.J.H. Vlugt