High pressure electrochemical reduction of CO2 to formic acid/formate

A comparison between bipolar membranes and cation exchange membranes

Journal article (2019)

Authors

M. Ramdin Engineering Thermodynamics - Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering
A.R.T. Morrison Large Scale Energy Storage - Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering
M. de Groen Coval Energy
M.C.H. van Haperen Coval Energy
Robert De Kler Coval Energy
J. P.Martin Trusler Imperial College London
W. de Jong Large Scale Energy Storage - Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering
T.J.H. Vlugt Engineering Thermodynamics - Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering
Research Group
Large Scale Energy Storage (Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering) (TU Delft)
Copyright: © 2019 M. Ramdin, A.R.T. Morrison, M. de Groen, M.C.H. van Haperen, Robert De Kler, L.J.P. van den Broeke, J. P.Martin Trusler, W. de Jong, T.J.H. Vlugt
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.iecr.8b04944
More Info
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Published Date

2019

Language

English

Faculty

Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering

Department

Process and Energy

Research Group

Large Scale Energy Storage

Abstract

A high pressure semicontinuous batch electrolyzer is used to convert CO2 to formic acid/formate on a tin-based cathode using bipolar membranes (BPMs) and cation exchange membranes (CEMs). The effects of CO2 pressure up to 50 bar, electrolyte concentration, flow rate, cell potential, and the two types of membranes on the current density (CD) and Faraday efficiency (FE) for formic acid/formate are investigated. Increasing the CO2 pressure yields a high FE up to 90% at a cell potential of 3.5 V and a CD of ∼30 mA/cm2. The FE decreases significantly at higher cell potentials and current densities, and lower pressures. Up to 2 wt % formate was produced at a cell potential of 4 V, a CD of ∼100 mA/cm2, and a FE of 65%. The advantages and disadvantages of using BPMs and CEMs in electrochemical cells for CO2 conversion to formic acid/formate are discussed.