Paired electrochemical synthesis of oxymethylene dimethyl ethers

Abstract

The invention relates to the electrochemical synthesis of oxymethylene dimethyl ethers via paired electrolysis.

1 . A method of producing oxymethylene dimethyl ether, comprising preparing oxymethylene dimethyl ether via paired electrosynthesis, paired electrosynthesis meaning that both anodic and cathodic reactions form one or more of oxymethylene dimethyl ether and at least one intermediate compound to the-formation of oxymethylene dimethyl ether, wherein the paired electrosynthesis comprises:
 a cathodic reaction of electrochemically reducing one or more of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide; and   an anodic reaction of electrochemically oxidising methanol;   and wherein the at least one intermediate compound comprises formaldehyde.   
     
     
         2 . A method of producing at least one intermediate compound to formation of oxymethylene dimethyl ether, comprising electrochemically preparing said at least one intermediate compound by paired electrosynthesis, paired electrosynthesis meaning that both anodic and cathodic reactions form said at least one intermediate compound, wherein the paired electrosynthesis comprises:
 a cathodic reaction electrochemically reducing one or more of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide; and   an anodic reaction electrochemically oxidising methanol;   and wherein the at least one intermediate compound comprises formaldehyde.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  comprising electrochemically reducing carbon dioxide; and wherein the at least one intermediate compound further comprises formic acid. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein
 the paired electrosynthesis is carried out in an electrolyte; or   the electrochemically reducing one or more of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide is carried out in a catholyte; or   the electrochemically oxidising methanol is carried out in an anolyte.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein
 the electrolyte comprises methanol; or   the catholyte comprises methanol; or   the anolyte comprises methanol.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein
 the electrolyte comprises 10% or less of water, based on the-total weight of the electrolyte; or   the anolyte comprises 10% or less of water, based on the-total weight of the anolyte; or   the catholyte comprises 10% or less of water, based on the-total weight of the catholyte.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of at least part of the carbon monoxide and at least part of the carbon dioxide originates from one or more selected from the group consisting of a pre-combustion process, a combustion process, a natural gas stream, a biogas stream, synthesis gas, water, and air. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , performed in an electrochemical reactor, wherein
 the one or more of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide is electrochemically reduced in a compartment, comprising a cathode, said cathode comprising one or more of the groups consisting of metals, carbon-doped materials, and carbon-based materials; or   the methanol is electrochemically oxidised in a compartment, comprising an anode, said anode comprising one or more metals.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , comprising:
 feeding a non-aqueous mixture comprising
 one or more of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, and 
 methanol 
   to the compartment, wherein the cathode comprises boron doped diamond (BDD);   feeding a non-aqueous mixture comprising methanol to the compartment, wherein the anode comprises platinum; and   combining the mixtures of said compartments into one reaction mixture, wherein the reaction mixture comprises formaldehyde and methanol.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein oxymethylene dimethyl ether is formed in one or more of the compartment comprising the anode and the compartment comprising the cathode. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said compartments are the same compartment. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the paired electrosynthesis is carried out at:
 atmospheric pressure or higher; or   a temperature of 0° C. or higher.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , comprising reacting the reaction mixture to form oxymethylene dimethyl ether. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the reaction is carried out at:
 atmospheric pressure or higher; or   a temperature of 0° C. or higher.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the oxymethylene dimethyl ether comprises one or more compounds represented by general formula CH 3 O(CH 2 O) n CH 3 , wherein “n” is an integer of 1 or more. 
     
     
         16 . A method of producing a polyoxymethylene dimethyl ether, comprising:
 preparing oxymethylene dimethyl ether according to the method of  claim 1 ; and   reacting the oxymethylene dimethyl ether with formaldehyde, thereby forming the polyoxymethylene dimethyl ether.