Catalyst Revitalization for Oxocarbon Electrolyzer

Abstract

Method for operating an oxocarbon electrolysis reactor are disclosed. A disclosed method includes supplying a cathode area of the oxocarbon electrolysis reactor with an oxocarbon species as a reduction substrate for a reduction reaction. The reduction reaction uses a catalyst in the cathode area of the oxocarbon electrolysis reactor. The method also includes supplying an anode area of the oxocarbon electrolysis reactor with an oxidation substrate for an oxidation reaction. The method also includes valorizing the oxocarbon species into a useful species in a valorization process. The valorization process includes the reduction reaction and the oxidation reaction. The method also includes supplying an oxidant to the cathode area of the oxocarbon electrolysis reactor, whereby the oxidant revitalizes the catalyst.

1 . A method for operating an oxocarbon electrolysis reactor comprising:
 supplying a cathode area of the oxocarbon electrolysis reactor with an oxocarbon species as a reduction substrate for a reduction reaction;   supplying an anode area of the oxocarbon electrolysis reactor with an oxidation substrate for an oxidation reaction;   valorizing the oxocarbon species into a useful species via a valorization process, wherein the valorization process includes the reduction reaction and the oxidation reaction;   monitoring a performance of the valorization process in a monitoring process; and   supplying an oxidant to the cathode area of the oxocarbon electrolysis reactor in a revitalization process for a catalyst of the oxocarbon electrolysis reactor conducted in response to a change in the performance of the valorization process as monitored in the monitoring process;   wherein the oxocarbon electrolysis reactor is a carbon monoxide electrolysis reactor and the oxidant is one of: air, O 2 , O 3 , H 2 , Cl 2 , H 2 O 2 , Br 2 , I 2 , F 2 , and H 2 S 2 O 8 .   
     
     
         2 . The method for operating an oxocarbon electrolysis reactor of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the revitalization process comprises:   shutting down the oxocarbon electrolysis reactor; and   supplying the oxidant to the cathode area while the oxocarbon electrolysis reactor is shut down.   
     
     
         3 . The method for operating an oxocarbon electrolysis reactor of  claim 2 , wherein the revitalization process comprises:
 pressurizing the cathode area to a pressure while the oxidant is in the cathode area.   
     
     
         4 . The method for operating an oxocarbon electrolysis reactor of  claim 1 , wherein the revitalization process is conducted in response to the change in performance in that:
 the revitalization process is triggered upon detecting a decrease in the performance of the valorization process.   
     
     
         5 . The method for operating an oxocarbon electrolysis reactor of  claim 1 , wherein the revitalization process comprises:
 supplying the oxidant to the cathode area while the oxocarbon electrolysis reactor is operational and conducting the valorization process.   
     
     
         6 . The method for operating an oxocarbon electrolysis reactor of  claim 1 , wherein the revitalization process is conducted in response to the change in performance in that:
 the revitalization process supplies an increased amount of the oxidant in response to detecting the performance has decreased.   
     
     
         7 . The method for operating an oxocarbon electrolysis reactor of  claim 1 , wherein the revitalization process is conducted in response to the change in performance in that:
 the revitalization process supplies an increased amount of the oxidant in response to detecting the performance has decreased in a manner correlated to the supplying of the oxidant; and   the revitalization process supplies a decreased amount of the oxidant in response to detecting the performance has decreased in a manner uncorrelated to the supplying of the oxidant.   
     
     
         8 . The method for operating an oxocarbon electrolysis reactor of  claim 1 , wherein the monitoring process comprises:
 monitoring a selectivity of the oxocarbon electrolysis reactor for the useful species;   wherein the performance is the selectivity.   
     
     
         9 . The method for operating an oxocarbon electrolysis reactor of  claim 1 , wherein the monitoring process comprises:
 monitoring an electrical parameter of the oxocarbon electrolysis reactor;   wherein the performance is derived from the electrical parameter.   
     
     
         10 . The method for operating an oxocarbon electrolysis reactor of  claim 1 , wherein the catalyst:
 is one of a metal ion and a metal; and   includes at least one element from a group consisting of: Cu, Ag, Au, Zn, Sn, Bi, Ni, Fe, Co, Pd, Ir, Pt, Mn, Re, Ru, La, Tb, Ce, and Dy.   
     
     
         11 . The method for operating an oxocarbon electrolysis reactor of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the cathode area is a gaseous phase reactor area;   the cathode area includes a gas diffusion layer;   the catalyst is on the gas diffusion layer; and   the oxidant is supplied to the oxocarbon electrolysis reactor in gaseous form.   
     
     
         12 . The method for operating an oxocarbon electrolysis reactor of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the pressure is at least 1.1 bar.   
     
     
         13 . The method for operating an oxocarbon electrolysis reactor of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the pressure is applied to the cathode area for at least 5 minutes.   
     
     
         14 . A method for operating an oxocarbon electrolysis reactor comprising:
 supplying a cathode area of the oxocarbon electrolysis reactor with an oxocarbon species as a reduction substrate for a reduction reaction, wherein the reduction reaction uses a catalyst in the cathode area of the oxocarbon electrolysis reactor;   supplying an anode area of the oxocarbon electrolysis reactor with an oxidation substrate for an oxidation reaction;   valorizing the oxocarbon species into a useful species in a valorization process, wherein the valorization process includes the reduction reaction and the oxidation reaction; and   supplying an oxidant to the cathode area of the oxocarbon electrolysis reactor in a revitalization process, whereby the oxidant revitalizes the catalyst;   wherein the oxocarbon electrolysis reactor is a carbon monoxide electrolysis reactor and the oxidant is one of: air, O 2 , O 3 , H 2 , Cl 2 , H 2 O 2 , Br 2 , I 2 , F 2 , and H 2 S 2 O 8 .   
     
     
         15 . The method for operating an oxocarbon electrolysis reactor of  claim 14 , wherein the oxidant is supplied to the cathode area in a revitalization process and the revitalization process comprises:
 shutting down the oxocarbon electrolysis reactor; and   supplying the oxidant to the cathode area while the oxocarbon electrolysis reactor is shut down.   
     
     
         16 . The method for operating an oxocarbon electrolysis reactor of  claim 15 , wherein the revitalization process comprises:
 pressurizing the cathode area to a pressure of at least 1.1 bar while the oxidant is in the cathode area.   
     
     
         17 . The method for operating an oxocarbon electrolysis reactor of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 supplying the oxidant to the cathode area while the oxocarbon electrolysis reactor is operational and conducting the valorization process.   
     
     
         18 . The method for operating an oxocarbon electrolysis reactor of  claim 14 , wherein the oxidant is supplied to the cathode area in a revitalization process and the revitalization process comprises:
 removing a fouling agent from the catalyst using the oxidant; and   regenerating a catalytic performance of the catalyst to within 5% of an original performance of the catalyst.   
     
     
         19 . The method for operating an oxocarbon electrolysis reactor of  claim 14 , wherein the oxidant is supplied to the cathode area in a revitalization process and the revitalization process comprises:
 oxidizing the catalyst; and   regenerating a catalytic performance of the catalyst to within 5% of an original performance of the catalyst.   
     
     
         20 . The method for operating an oxocarbon electrolysis reactor of  claim 14 , wherein the catalyst:
 is one of a metal ion and a metal; and   includes at least one element from a group consisting of: Cu, Ag, Au, Zn, Sn, Bi, Ni, Fe, Co, Pd, Ir, Pt, Mn, Re, Ru, La, Tb, Ce, and Dy.   
     
     
         21 . The method for operating an oxocarbon electrolysis reactor of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the cathode area is a gaseous phase reactor area;   the cathode area includes a gas diffusion layer;   the catalyst is on the gas diffusion layer; and   the oxidant is supplied to the oxocarbon electrolysis reactor in gaseous form.   
     
     
         22 . The method for operating an oxocarbon electrolysis reactor of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the pressure is at least 1.1 bar.   
     
     
         23 . The method for operating an oxocarbon electrolysis reactor of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the pressure is applied to the cathode area for at least 5 minutes.   
     
     
         24 . A method for operating an oxocarbon electrolysis reactor comprising:
 supplying a cathode area of the oxocarbon electrolysis reactor with an oxocarbon species as a reduction substrate for a reduction reaction;   supplying an anode area of the oxocarbon electrolysis reactor with an oxidation substrate for an oxidation reaction;   valorizing the oxocarbon species into a useful species in a valorization process, wherein the valorization process includes the reduction reaction and the oxidation reaction; and   supplying an oxidant to the cathode area of the oxocarbon electrolysis reactor in a revitalization process for a catalyst of the oxocarbon electrolysis reactor, wherein the revitalization process comprises: (i) shutting down the oxocarbon electrolysis reactor;   (ii) supplying the oxidant to the cathode area while the oxocarbon electrolysis reactor is shut down; and (iii) pressurizing the cathode area to a pressure while the oxidant is in the cathode area;   wherein the oxocarbon electrolysis reactor is a carbon monoxide electrolysis reactor and the oxidant is one of: air, O 2 , O 3 , H 2 , Cl 2 , H 2 O 2 , Br 2 , I 2 , F 2 , and H 2 S 2 O 8 .   
     
     
         25 . The method for operating an oxocarbon electrolysis reactor of  claim 24 , wherein:
 the pressure is at least 1.1 bar.   
     
     
         26 . The method for operating an oxocarbon electrolysis reactor of  claim 24 , wherein:
 the pressure is applied to the cathode area for at least 5 minutes.   
     
     
         27 . The method for operating an oxocarbon electrolysis reactor of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 monitoring a performance of the valorization process in a monitoring process;   wherein the oxidant is supplied to the cathode area in the revitalization process in response to a change in the performance of the valorization process as monitored in the monitoring process.   
     
     
         28 . The method for operating an oxocarbon electrolysis reactor of  claim 27 , wherein the monitoring process comprises:
 monitoring a selectivity of the oxocarbon electrolysis reactor for the useful species;   wherein the performance is the selectivity.   
     
     
         29 . The method for operating an oxocarbon electrolysis reactor of  claim 24 , wherein the catalyst:
 is one of a metal ion and a metal; and   includes at least one element from a group consisting of: Cu, Ag, Au, Zn, Sn, Bi, Ni, Fe, Co, Pd, Ir, Pt, Mn, Re, Ru, La, Tb, Ce, and Dy.   
     
     
         30 . The method for operating an oxocarbon electrolysis reactor of  claim 24 , wherein:
 the cathode area is a gaseous phase reactor area;   the cathode area includes a gas diffusion layer;   the catalyst is on the gas diffusion layer, and   the oxidant is supplied to the oxocarbon electrolysis reactor in gaseous form.