Methods for electrochemically oxidizing aromatic aldehydes, such as furfural and furfural derivatives, to carboxylic acids in acidic solutions are provided. Also provided are electrochemical cells for carrying out the oxidation reactions. The electrochemical oxidations may be conducted in aqueous media at ambient pressure and mild temperatures.

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.

A method including collecting exhaust gas comprising carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) at a wellsite to provide a collected exhaust gas, separating CO.sub.2 from the collected exhaust gas to provide a separated CO.sub.2, and forming formic acid utilizing at least a portion of the separated CO.sub.2. At least a portion of the formic acid can be utilizing in a wellbore servicing fluid (e.g., a fracturing fluid) introduced downhole via a wellbore. The exhaust gas can be produced during a wellbore servicing operation at the or another wellbore. A system for carrying out the method is also provided.

A method including collecting exhaust gas comprising carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) at a wellsite to provide a collected exhaust gas, separating CO.sub.2 from the collected exhaust gas to provide a separated CO.sub.2, and forming formic acid utilizing at least a portion of the separated CO.sub.2. At least a portion of the formic acid can be utilizing in a wellbore servicing fluid (e.g., a fracturing fluid) introduced downhole via a wellbore. The exhaust gas can be produced during a wellbore servicing operation at the or another wellbore. A system for carrying out the method is also provided.

A photoexcitable material includes: a solid solution of MN (where M is at least one of gallium, aluminum and indium) and ZnO, wherein the photoexcitable material includes 30 to 70 mol % ZnO and has a band gap energy of 2.20 eV or less.

A photoexcitable material includes: a solid solution of MN (where M is at least one of gallium, aluminum and indium) and ZnO, wherein the photoexcitable material includes 30 to 70 mol % ZnO and has a band gap energy of 2.20 eV or less.

Electrochemical systems and methods for cleaving C—C bonds are disclosed. In performing the method, a reactant adsorption electrical potential, a C—C bond breaking electrical potential, and a desorption electrical potential are sequentially applied to an electrode pair contacting a composition initially containing a target chemical reactant, such as a polymer or alkane. As a result of performing the method, one or more desired chemical products, such as smaller alkane-containing molecules, are released from the electrode into the region between the electrode pairs. The method may be performed at ambient temperatures using renewable electricity.

Electrosynthesis of oxirane can include contacting a halide electrolyte with an anode and cathode respectively located in anodic and cathodic compartments; supplying olefin reactants into the electrolyte in the anodic compartment, such that the anode generates ethylene chlorohydrin; withdrawing a loaded anodic solution comprising ethylene halohydrin from the anodic compartment, and a loaded cathodic solution comprising OH.sup.- ions from the cathodic compartment; and mixing the loaded anodic solution with the loaded cathodic solution under conditions to react ethylene halohydrin with OH- to produce oxirane. The electrocatalyst can include iridium oxide on a titanium substrate, with the iridium oxide provided as nanoparticles on a titanium mesh, and the electrolyte can be aqueous KCl. The electrocatalyst can define an extended heterogenous:homogenous interface with halide ions acting as a reservoir for positive charges, thereby storing and redistributing positive charges to promote selective generation of ethylene halohydrins.

The invention relates to a method for preparing organic compounds with recovery of product liquids, which comprise short-chain and medium length-chain carboxylic acids having a chain length of from 2 to 16 carbon atoms, by anaerobic fermentation of biomass with mixed microorganism cultures with suppression of methane formation and by electrolytic treatment of these product liquids containing the carboxylic acids with a constant or varying oxidation flow for the recovery and isolation of the target compounds.

The desorbing process of the present disclosure includes a step of bringing a solution containing a hydrogenated aromatic compound, at least one of [P((CH.sub.2).sub.mCH.sub.3).sub.3((CH.sub.2).sub.nCH.sub.3) (5≦m≦24, 13≦n≦24)].sup.+ and [N((CH.sub.2).sub.mCH.sub.3).sub.3((CH.sub.2).sub.nCH.sub.3) (5≦m≦24, 13≦n≦24)].sup.+, and an anion into contact with an anode; and desorbing hydrogen from the hydrogenated aromatic compound.