Low-energy electrochemical bicarbonate ion solution

Abstract

A low-energy electrochemical method and system of forming bicarbonate ion solutions in an electrochemical cell utilizing carbon dioxide in contact with an electrolyte contained between two ion exchange membranes in an electrochemical cell. On applying a low voltage across an anode and cathode in electrical contact with the ion exchange membranes, bicarbonate ions form in the electrolyte without forming a gas, e.g., chlorine or oxygen at the electrodes.

1 . An electrochemical system comprising:
 an anode, a cathode and a first electrolyte disposed between the anode and cathode, wherein the system is configured to form bicarbonate ions in the first electrolyte without forming a gas at the cathode or anode on applying a voltage across the anode and cathode and contacting the first electrolyte with carbon dioxide.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  comprising:
 a first anion exchange membrane and a cation exchange membrane between which is contained the first electrolyte. 
 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a second electrolyte contacting the first anion exchange membrane and the anode;   a third electrolyte contained between the cation exchange membrane and a second anion exchange membrane; and   a fourth electrolyte contacting the second anion exchange membrane and the cathode.   
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a fifth electrolyte contained between the second cation exchange membrane and a second anion exchange membrane, and wherein the second electrolyte contacts the second anion exchange membrane and the anode.   
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the first electrolyte comprises sodium chloride and carbon dioxide. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 1 , configured to form sodium bicarbonate in the first electrolyte. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 13 , configured to form hydrochloric acid in the third electrolyte. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the anode and cathode are selected from tin, nickel, cobalt or copper. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , configured to oxidize the anode to tin ions in the second electrolyte and reducing tin ions to tin at the cathode. 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 26 , configured to form sodium bicarbonate in the first electrolyte. 
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 28 , configured to form tin ions in the electrolyte at the anode and reducing tin ions to tin from the electrolyte at the cathode. 
     
     
         32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 . (canceled) 
     
     
         40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . An electrochemical method comprising:
 applying a voltage across an anode and a cathode through a first electrolyte comprising added carbon dioxide to form bicarbonate ions in the first electrolyte without forming a gas at the cathode or the anode, wherein the first electrolyte is located between the anode and cathode.   
     
     
         42 . (canceled) 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the first electrolyte is contained between an anion exchange membrane and a cation exchange membrane. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the anion exchange membrane contacts the anode through the second electrolyte; and
 the cation exchange membrane contacts the cathode through a third electrolyte.   
     
     
         45 . (canceled) 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein
 the first cation exchange membrane separates the first electrolyte from the third electrolyte;   the second cation exchange membrane contacts the anode through the second electrolyte;   a first anion exchange membrane separates the third electrolyte from the fourth electrolyte; and   the fourth electrolyte contacts the cathode.   
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein
 the first cation exchange membrane separates the first electrolyte from the third electrolyte;   the first anion exchange membrane separates the third electrolyte from the fourth electrolyte;   the fourth electrolyte contacts the cathode;   a fifth electrolyte is contained between the second cation exchange membrane and a second anion exchange membrane; and   the second anion exchange membrane contacts the anode through the second electrolyte.   
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the first electrolyte comprises sodium chloride and carbon dioxide. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising transferring anions across the anion exchange membrane from the first electrolyte to the second electrolyte. 
     
     
         50 . (canceled) 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising transferring cations across the cation exchange membrane from the first electrolyte to the third electrolyte. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising transferring protons across the first cation ion exchange membrane from the first electrolyte to the third electrolyte. 
     
     
         53 . (canceled) 
     
     
         54 . (canceled) 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 44 , comprising precipitating alkaline metal carbonates utilizing the first electrolyte. 
     
     
         56 . (canceled) 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 44 , comprising forming sodium bicarbonate in the first electrolyte. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising separating the cathode from the third electrolyte utilizing second anion exchange membrane whereby the cathode is electrically connected to second anion exchange membrane through fourth electrolyte. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 58 , further comprising transferring chloride ions across the second anion exchange membrane from the fourth electrolyte to the third electrolyte. 
     
     
         60 . (canceled) 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 59 , comprising forming hydrochloric acid in the third electrolyte. 
     
     
         62 . (canceled) 
     
     
         63 . (canceled) 
     
     
         64 . (canceled) 
     
     
         65 . (canceled) 
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 44  comprising forming hydrochloric acid in the third electrolyte. 
     
     
         67 . (canceled) 
     
     
         68 . (canceled) 
     
     
         69 . (canceled) 
     
     
         70 . (canceled) 
     
     
         71 . (canceled) 
     
     
         72 . (canceled) 
     
     
         73 . (canceled) 
     
     
         74 . (canceled) 
     
     
         75 . (canceled)