Cogeneration of electricity and organic chemicals using a polymer electrolyte fuel cell

Yuan, Xiao‐Zi; Ma, Zhenqiang; Bueb, H.; Drillet, Jean‐François; Hagen, Jens; Schmidt, Volkmar M.

doi:10.1016/j.electacta.2005.02.080

Cited by 17 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Furthermore, electrocatalytic oxidation in fuel cell reactors offers the potential economic advantage of coproducing electricity and chemical products simultaneously . Polyols have been investigated as potential fuels because of their high energy densities and wide range of useful oxidation products and may be viable feedstocks for cogeneration if a desired product can be generated with high selectively. − Horányi and Torkos identified a wide range of oxidation products for PDO on a platinized platinum electrode in acidic media and noted that the reaction scheme is greatly complicated by the simultaneous presence of loosely adsorbed and strongly chemisorbed species on the electrode . Alonso and Gonzalez-Velasco studied the electrooxidation of PDO on a bulk Au plate under basic conditions and identified lactic, acetic, and formic acids as stable products using NMR techniques, while pyruvic acid was not detected .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Selective Oxidation of 1,2-Propanediol in Alkaline Anion-Exchange Membrane Electrocatalytic Flow Reactors: Experimental and DFT Investigations

Chadderdon

Xin

et al. 2015

ACS Catal.

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Electrocatalytic oxidation of polyhydric alcohols represents an important route for coproduction of biorenewable chemicals and energy. However, the governing factors leading to high product selectivity remain unclear. Herein, we investigate the selective oxidation of 1,2-propanediol (PDO) to pyruvate or lactate in electrocatalytic reactors over carbon-supported platinum (Pt/C) and gold (Au/C) anode catalysts. PDO-fed alkaline anion-exchange membrane fuel cells successfully cogenerated electricity and valuable chemicals with peak power densities of 46.3 mW cm–2 on Pt/C and 10.0 mW cm–2 on Au/C. Pt/C was highly selective for primary alcohol group oxidation to lactate (86.8%) under fuel cell conditions, but Au/C yielded significant amounts of pyruvate, a product that has previously eluded heterogeneous catalytic studies on Au. Sequential oxidation of lactate to pyruvate was not observed on Au/C but did occur slowly on Pt/C. The electrode potential dependent product distribution was investigated, and it was revealed that pyruvate selectivity on Au/C was sensitive to anode potential and could be varied from 20 to 56%. On the basis of observed product distributions and linear sweep voltammetry of intermediate products, we propose that the intermediates hydroxyacetone and pyruvaldehyde, which are not stable in high pH electrolyte, can be further oxidized to pyruvate on Au/C only if they are trapped within the thick liquid diffusion layer of the carbon cloth supported catalyst layer. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations of reaction energies identified the most favorable reaction intermediates and provided insight into the likely reaction pathways.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Selective Oxidation of 1,2-Propanediol in Alkaline Anion-Exchange Membrane Electrocatalytic Flow Reactors: Experimental and DFT Investigations

Chadderdon

Xin

et al. 2015

ACS Catal.

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“…Reactions in fuel cells involve hydrogenations [22][23][24], dehydrogenations, halogenations, and oxidations, and these reactions are normally quite selective. Consequently, hydrogen peroxide and valuable organic chemicals can be obtained from PEMFCs, while AFCs can also be used to produce hydrogen peroxide.…”

Section: Fuel Cell Applicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fuel Cells

Yuan

Wang

2010

Handbook of Combustion

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A fuel cell is an electrochemical device that produces electricity from an externally supplied fuel and oxidant. Unlike the internal combustion engine (ICE), which converts the chemical energy of the fuel into mechanical energy, a fuel cell converts the fuels chemical energy directly into electric energy. The hydrogen-air fuel cell is the most popular, using hydrogen as the fuel and oxygen from air as the oxidant. Besides hydrogen, other fuels, including methanol, ethanol, and natural gas, can also be used directly in fuel cells. The most common method of fuel cell classification is based on the electrolyte used in the fuel cell. According to this system, fuel cells are usually classified into the five most common types: polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), alkaline fuel cell (AFC), phosphoric acid fuel cell (PAFC), molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC), and solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC).Energy conversion within a fuel cell is realized through electrochemical reactions. The fuel is oxidized at the anode and gives up electrons, which travel through an outside circuit to reach the cathode, where oxygen is reduced by the electrons to form water. When electrons pass through an electric load that is connected to the outside circuit, electric power is generated. In a hydrogen-air fuel cell, water and heat are the only byproducts, and therefore fuel cells are very environment-friendly power generation devices. Indeed, the fuel cell is very likely to replace the ICE in the future, due to the greenhouse gas effect and the ever-increasing pollution arising from the combustion of fossil fuels. In addition, the energy conversion efficiency through a fuel cell is much higher than that through an ICE. A fuel cell has many advantages, such as silent operation, high power density, quick recharge (refueling), minimal maintenance, and broad application. Such features have been the driving force behind the extensive worldwide research activities into fuel cell technology during the past two decades.However, the fuel cell is, in fact, not a new technology. As early as 1839, William Robert Grove, the father of the fuel cell, discovered that reversing the electrolysis of Handbook of Combustion Vol.1: Fundamentals and Safety Edited

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Fuel Cells and Electrolysis Processes

Bagotsky

2008

Fuel Cells

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Cogeneration of electricity and organic chemicals using a polymer electrolyte fuel cell

Cited by 17 publications

References 16 publications

Selective Oxidation of 1,2-Propanediol in Alkaline Anion-Exchange Membrane Electrocatalytic Flow Reactors: Experimental and DFT Investigations

Selective Oxidation of 1,2-Propanediol in Alkaline Anion-Exchange Membrane Electrocatalytic Flow Reactors: Experimental and DFT Investigations

Fuel Cells

Fuel Cells and Electrolysis Processes

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