Carbon Dioxide Capture and Conversion to Organic Products

Abstract

Methods and systems for capture of carbon dioxide and electrochemical conversion of the captured carbon dioxide to organic products are disclosed. A method may include, but is not limited to, steps (A) to (C). Step (A) may introduce a solvent to a first compartment of an electrochemical cell. Step (B) may capture carbon dioxide with at least one of guanidine, a guanidine derivative, pyrimidine, or a pyrimidine derivative to form a carbamic zwitterion. Step (C) may apply an electrical potential between an anode and a cathode sufficient for the cathode to reduce the carbamic zwitterion to a product mixture.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide, comprising:
 an electrochemical cell including:
 a first cell compartment; 
 an anode positioned within said first cell compartment; 
 a second cell compartment; 
 a cathode positioned within said second cell compartment, the second cell compartment including a carbamic zwitterion; and 
 an energy source operably coupled with said anode and said cathode, said energy source configured to apply a voltage between said anode and said cathode to reduce the carbamic zwitterion at said cathode to a product mixture. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the carbamic zwitterion is formed in the second cell compartment by interacting carbon dioxide with at least one of guanidine or a guanidine derivative. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the carbamic zwitterion is formed in a mixing chamber by interacting carbon dioxide with at least one of guanidine or a guanidine derivative prior to introduction to said second cell compartment. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the energy source is further configured to apply a voltage between said anode and said cathode to regenerate a guanidine or a guanidine derivative. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second compartment includes at least one of 1,1,3,3 tetramethylguanidine, 1,5,7-triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec-5-ene, 7-methyl-1,5,7-triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec-5-ene, 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene, 1,5-diazabicyclo[4.3.0]non-5-ene, or 1,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrimidine.