Organic compound hydrogenation device and hydrogenation method

Abstract

The invention provides an organic compound(s) hydrogenation device that allows hydrogen derived from water to be stored essentially without generating hydrogen gas. The organic compound hydrogenation device of the invention comprises an oxidation chamber that holds a water-containing electrolyte, a reduction chamber that holds an organic compound(s) with an unsaturated bond, an electrolyte membrane with ion permeability that separates the electrolyte held in the oxidation chamber from the organic compound(s) held in the reduction chamber, an oxidizing electrode that generates protons from the water held in the oxidation chamber, and a reducing electrode that hydrogenates the organic compound(s) held in the reduction chamber.

1 . An organic compound(s) hydrogenation device comprising:
 an oxidation chamber that holds a water-containing electrolyte,   a reduction chamber that holds an organic compound(s) with an unsaturated bond,   an electrolyte membrane with ion permeability, separating the electrolyte held in the oxidation chamber from the organic compound(s) held in the reduction chamber,   an oxidizing electrode that generates protons from the water held in the oxidation chamber, and   a reducing electrode that hydrogenates the organic compound(s) held in the reduction chamber.   
     
     
         2 . An organic compound(s) hydrogenation device comprising:
 an oxidation chamber that holds a water-containing electrolyte,   a reduction chamber that holds an organic compound(s) with an unsaturated bond,   a proton conductive electrolyte membrane separating the interior of the oxidation chamber from the interior of the reduction chamber,   an oxidizing electrode situated in the oxidation chamber, and   a reducing electrode adjacent to the electrolyte membrane, contacting with the organic compound(s) in the reduction chamber to hydrogenate the organic compound(s).   
     
     
         3 . The organic compound(s) hydrogenation device according to  claim 1 , comprising a membrane-electrode assembly having an electron collector layer that allows permeation of the organic compound(s), the reducing electrode, and the electrolyte membrane,
 wherein the reducing electrode is situated between the electron collector layer and the electrolyte membrane,   the electrolyte membrane covers the electron collector layer and the reducing electrode, and has an opening exposing the section of the side of the electron collector layer opposite the reducing electrode.   
     
     
         4 . The organic compound(s) hydrogenation device according to  claim 1 , comprising a membrane-electrode assembly having an electron collector layer that allows permeation of the organic compound(s), the reducing electrode being formed on one side of the electron collector layer, and the electrolyte membrane covering the electron collector layer and the reducing electrode,
 wherein an opening is formed on a section of the electrolyte membrane located on the side opposite the reducing electrode sandwiching the electron collector layer,   the opening faces the inside of the reduction chamber, and   the back side of the section of the electron collector layer on which the reducing electrode has been formed is exposed through the opening.   
     
     
         5 . The organic compound(s) hydrogenation device according to  claim 1 , comprising a power source that applies a voltage to the oxidizing electrode and the reducing electrode. 
     
     
         6 . The organic compound(s) hydrogenation device according to  claim 5 , comprising:
 a conductor wire that connects the oxidizing electrode and the power source, and   a conductor wire that connects the reducing electrode and the power source.   
     
     
         7 . An organic hydrogenation method employing a hydrogenation device according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 a voltage is applied to the oxidizing electrode and the reducing electrode through the conductor wires, causing generation of oxygen at the oxidizing electrode and hydrogenation of the organic compound(s) at the reducing electrode.   
     
     
         8 . The organic hydrogenation method according to  claim 7 , wherein the organic compound(s) is at least one selected from the group consisting of benzene, toluene, xylene, ethylbenzene, naphthalene, methylnaphthalene and tetralin. 
     
     
         9 . The organic hydrogenation method according to  claim 7 , wherein the organic compound(s) is a liquid hydrocarbon that undergoes phase separation with water. 
     
     
         10 . The organic hydrogenation method according to  claim 7 , wherein the organic and a hydride of the organic compound(s) in the reduction chamber are both present as liquids. 
     
     
         11 . The organic hydrogenation method according to  claim 7 , which maintains inclusion of water into the reduction chamber at a minimum. 
     
     
         12 . The organic compound(s) hydrogenation device according to  claim 3 , comprising a power source that applies a voltage to the oxidizing electrode and the reducing electrode. 
     
     
         13 . The organic compound(s) hydrogenation device according to  claim 12 , comprising:
 a conductor wire that connects the oxidizing electrode and the power source, and   a conductor wire that connects the reducing electrode and the power source.   
     
     
         14 . The organic compound(s) hydrogenation device according to  claim 4 , comprising a power source that applies a voltage to the oxidizing electrode and the reducing electrode. 
     
     
         15 . The organic compound(s) hydrogenation device according to  claim 14 , comprising:
 a conductor wire that connects the oxidizing electrode and the power source, and   a conductor wire that connects the reducing electrode and the power source.   
     
     
         16 . The organic compound(s) hydrogenation device according to  claim 2 , comprising a membrane-electrode assembly having a collector layer that allows permeation of the organic compound(s), the reducing electrode, and the electrolyte membrane,
 wherein the reducing electrode is situated between the electron collector layer and the electrolyte membrane,   the electrolyte membrane covers the electron collector layer and the reducing electrode, and has an opening exposing the section of the side of the electron collector layer opposite the reducing electrode.   
     
     
         17 . The organic compound(s) hydrogenation device according to  claim 2 , comprising a membrane-electrode assembly having a collector layer that allows permeation of the organic compound(s), the reducing electrode being formed on one side of the electron collector layer, and the electrolyte membrane covering the electron collector layer and the reducing electrode,
 wherein an opening is formed on a section of the electrolyte membrane located on the side opposite the reducing electrode sandwiching the electron collector layer,   the opening faces the inside of the reduction chamber, and   the back side of the section of the electron collector layer on which the reducing electrode has been formed is exposed through the opening.   
     
     
         18 . The organic compound(s) hydrogenation device according to  claim 2 , comprising a power source that applies a voltage to the oxidizing electrode and the reducing electrode. 
     
     
         19 . The organic compound(s) hydrogenation device according to  claim 18 , comprising:
 a conductor wire that connects the oxidizing electrode and the power source, and   a conductor wire that connects the reducing electrode and the power source.   
     
     
         20 . The organic compound(s) hydrogenation device according to  claim 16  comprising a power source that applies a voltage to the oxidizing electrode and the reducing electrode. 
     
     
         21 . The organic compound(s) hydrogenation device according to  claim 20 , comprising:
 a conductor wire that connects the oxidizing electrode and the power source, and   a conductor wire that connects the reducing electrode and the power source.   
     
     
         22 . The organic compound(s) hydrogenation device according to  claim 17 , comprising a power source that applies a voltage to the oxidizing electrode and the reducing electrode. 
     
     
         23 . The organic compound(s) hydrogenation device according to  claim 22 , comprising:
 a conductor wire that connects the oxidizing electrode and the power source, and   a conductor wire that connects the reducing electrode and the power source.