An electrodes/electrolyte assembly and a method for the direct amination of hydrocarbons, and a method for the preparation of said electrodes/electrolyte assembly is disclosed. The presented Solution allows the increase of conversion of said amination to above 60%, even at low temperatures. The electrodes/electrolyte assembly for direct amination of hydrocarbons has: an anode, electrons and protons conductor, that includes a composite porous matrix, containing a ceramic fraction and a catalyst for the amination at temperatures lower than 450 C.; a porous cathode, electrons and protons conductor, and electrocatalyst; an electrolyte, protons or ions conductor and electrically insulating, located between the anode and the cathode, made of a composite ceramic impermeable to reagents and products of the amination.

Features for an aqueous reactor include a field generator. The field generator includes a series of parallel conductive plates including a series of intermediate neutral plates. The intermediate neutral plates are arranged in interleaved sets between an anode and a cathode. Other features of the aqueous reactor may include a sealed reaction vessel, fluid circulation manifold, electrical power modulator, vacuum port, and barrier membrane. Methods of using the field generator include immersion in an electrolyte solution and application of an external voltage and vacuum to generate hydrogen and oxygen gases. The reactor and related components can be arranged to produce gaseous fuel or liquid fuel. In one use, a mixture of a carbon based material and a liquid hydrocarbon is added. The preferred carbon based material is powdered coal.

Features for an aqueous reactor include a field generator. The field generator includes a series of parallel conductive plates including a series of intermediate neutral plates. The intermediate neutral plates are arranged in interleaved sets between an anode and a cathode. Other features of the aqueous reactor may include a sealed reaction vessel, fluid circulation manifold, electrical power modulator, vacuum port, and barrier membrane. Methods of using the field generator include immersion in an electrolyte solution and application of an external voltage and vacuum to generate hydrogen and oxygen gases. The reactor and related components can be arranged to produce gaseous fuel or liquid fuel. In one use, a mixture of a carbon based material and a liquid hydrocarbon is added. The preferred carbon based material is powdered coal.

The present disclosure provides a ready-to-use bio-electrode stable for long term storage and a process of constructing the same. The process for construction of bio-electrode for electro-biocatalysis comprising of: selection of an electro-active bacteria; enrichment of said electro-active bacteria in a nutrient rich medium; separation of said electro-active bacterial cells from said nutrient rich medium; selection of an electrode material; surface modification of said electrode material; layering the surface modified electrode material with conductive material; layering the surface modified electrode material with an electro-active bacterial cells along with biofilm inducing agents and stabilizing agents; conditioning the electro-active bacterial cells layered electrode; incubating the electrode obtained with an immobilizing agent along with conductive material; and conditioning the electrode with micronutrients to obtain a bio-electrode.

The present disclosure provides a ready-to-use bio-electrode stable for long term storage and a process of constructing the same. The process for construction of bio-electrode for electro-biocatalysis comprising of: selection of an electro-active bacteria; enrichment of said electro-active bacteria in a nutrient rich medium; separation of said electro-active bacterial cells from said nutrient rich medium; selection of an electrode material; surface modification of said electrode material; layering the surface modified electrode material with conductive material; layering the surface modified electrode material with an electro-active bacterial cells along with biofilm inducing agents and stabilizing agents; conditioning the electro-active bacterial cells layered electrode; incubating the electrode obtained with an immobilizing agent along with conductive material; and conditioning the electrode with micronutrients to obtain a bio-electrode.

The disclosure relates to an electrolyzer reactor suitable for the reduction of organic compounds. The reactor includes a membrane electrode assembly with freestanding metallic meshes which serve both as metallic electrode structures for electron transport as well as catalytic surfaces for electron generation and organic compound reduction. Suitable organic compounds for reduction include oxygenated and/or unsaturated hydrocarbon compounds, in particular those characteristic of bio-oil (e.g., alone or a multicomponent mixtures). The reactor and related methods provide a resource- and energy-efficient approach to organic compound reduction, in particular for bio-oil mixtures which can be conveniently upgraded at or near their point of production with minimal or no transportation.

Various embodiments disclosed relate to electrocatalytic hydrogenation of muconic acid and polymers formed from the reaction products thereof. In various embodiments, the present invention provides an electrocatalytic method to prepare 3-hexene-1,6-dioic acid, 2-hexene-1,6-dioic acid, adipic acid, or a combination thereof, from muconic acid. The method includes passing current through a catalytic cathode in a reactor including an aqueous acidic solution including muconic acid, a supporting electrolyte, and an anode, so as to generate atomic hydrogen on the cathode surface in an amount effective to hydrogenate the muconic acid to yield a product including 3-hexene-1,6-dioic acid, 2-hexene-1,6-dioic acid, adipic acid, or a mixture thereof. Also disclosed is the polymerization of 3-hexene-1,6-dioic acid, 2-hexene-1,6-dioic acid, or a combination thereof with another compound, such as a diamine or a dialcohol, to form a polymer, such as a polyamide or a polyester.

A gas diffusion electrode for an electro-synthetic or electro-energy cell, for example a fuel cell, including one or more gas permeable layers, a first conductive layer provided on a first side of the gas diffusion electrode, and a second layer, which may be a second conductive layer, provided on a second side of the gas diffusion electrode. The one or more gas permeable layers are positioned between the first conductive layer and the second layer, which may be a second conductive layer, and the one or more gas permeable layers provide a gas channel. The one or more gas permeable layers are gas permeable and substantially impermeable to the liquid electrolyte. The porous conductive material is gas permeable and liquid electrolyte permeable. The gas diffusion electrode can be one of a plurality of alternating anode/cathode sets.

A gas diffusion electrode for an electro-synthetic or electro-energy cell, for example a fuel cell, including one or more gas permeable layers, a first conductive layer provided on a first side of the gas diffusion electrode, and a second layer, which may be a second conductive layer, provided on a second side of the gas diffusion electrode. The one or more gas permeable layers are positioned between the first conductive layer and the second layer, which may be a second conductive layer, and the one or more gas permeable layers provide a gas channel. The one or more gas permeable layers are gas permeable and substantially impermeable to the liquid electrolyte. The porous conductive material is gas permeable and liquid electrolyte permeable. The gas diffusion electrode can be one of a plurality of alternating anode/cathode sets.

A method of forming a hydrocarbon product and a protonation product comprises introducing C.sub.2H.sub.6 to a positive electrode of an electrochemical cell comprising the positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a proton-conducting membrane between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The proton-conducting membrane comprises an electrolyte material having an ionic conductivity greater than or equal to about 10.sup.2 S/cm at one or more temperatures within a range of from about 150 C. to about 650 C. A potential difference is applied between the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the electrochemical cell to produce the hydrocarbon product and the protonation product. A C.sub.2H.sub.6 activation system and an electrochemical cell are also described.