Electrochemical Co-Production of Chemicals Employing the Recycling of a Hydrogen Halide

Abstract

The present disclosure is a system and method for producing a first product from a first region of an electrochemical cell having a cathode and a second product from a second region of the electrochemical cell having an anode. The method may include a step of contacting the first region with a catholyte comprising carbon dioxide. The method may include another step of contacting the second region with an anolyte comprising a recycled reactant. The method may include a step of applying an electrical potential between the anode and the cathode sufficient to produce a first product recoverable from the first region and a second product recoverable from the second region. The second product may be removed from the second region and introduced to a secondary reactor. The method may include forming the recycled reactant in the secondary reactor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for producing a first product from a first region of an electrochemical cell having a cathode and a second product from a second region of the electrochemical cell having an anode, the method comprising the steps of:
 contacting the first region with a catholyte comprising carbon dioxide;   receiving a feed of a recycled reactant at the second region of the electrochemical cell, the recycled reactant is HX where X is selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, I and mixtures thereof;   contacting the second region with an anolyte comprising the recycled reactant;   applying an electrical potential between the anode and the cathode sufficient to produce a first product recoverable from the first region and a diatomic halide product, X 2 , recoverable from the second region;   removing the diatomic halide product from the second region;   introducing the diatomic halide product to a secondary reactor; and   forming the recycled reactant in the secondary reactor.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the secondary reactor includes an alkane, alkene or aromatic therein. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 forming a halogenated organic compound in the secondary reactor; and   feeding the halogenated organic compound into a third reactor.   
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 forming HX and at least one of an alcohol, an alkene, an alkyne, an aldehyde, a ketone, an alkane, and mixtures thereof in the third reactor; and   recycling the HX into the second region.   
     
     
         5 . A system for electrochemical co-production of products, comprising:
 an electrochemical cell including:
 a first region; 
 a cathode associated with the first region; 
 a second region; 
 an anode associated with the second region; and 
 a separator for selectively controlling a flow of ions between the first region and the second region; 
   a carbon dioxide source, the carbon dioxide source in flow communication with the first region to supply carbon dioxide to the first region;   a recycled reactant source, the recycled reactant source in flow communication with the second region to supply a recycled reactant to the second region, the recycled reactant is HX where X is selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, I and mixtures thereof;   an energy source for applying a current across the anode and the cathode, wherein when current is applied, a first product recoverable from the first region and a second product is recoverable from the second region; and   a secondary reactor, the secondary reactor including an alkane, alkene or aromatic therein, the secondary reactor configured to form the recycled reactant from the second product and the alkane, alkene or aromatic for introduction of the recycled reactant to the second region.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the secondary reactor is further configured to form a halogenated organic compound. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a third reactor configured to form HX and at least one of an alcohol, an alkene, an aldehyde, a ketone, an alkane, and an alkyne from at least the halogenated organic compound.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein said first product includes at least one of carbon monoxide, formic acid, formaldehyde, methanol, methane, oxalate, oxalic acid, glyoxylic acid, glyoxylate, glycolic acid, glycolate, glyoxal, glycolaldehyde, ethylene glycol, acetic acid, acetate, acetaldehyde, ethanol, ethane, ethylene, lactic acid, lactate, propanoic acid, propionate, acetone, isopropanol, 1-propanol, 1,2-propylene glycol, propane, propylene, butane, butene, 1-butanol, 2-butanone, 2-butanol, a carboxylic acid, a carboxylate, an aldehyde, an alcohol, and a ketone. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the first region includes a non-aqueous solvent, the first product includes a carboxylic acid, and the second product includes Br 2 .