An electrolytic reactor comprises at least one electrolytic cell with an anode compartment and a cathode compartment separated by a separator, in particular a semipermeable membrane. The anode compartment comprises an inlet and an outlet for anolyte at opposed ends, said inlet and outlet being connected with each other via an anolyte circulation pipe equipped with a storage means for anolyte, an anolyte vessel and at least one adsorption filter for adsorbing molecular impurities. When molecular impurities comes from the cathode compartment through the separator, the electrolytic reactor acts also as a cleaning device for the catholyte.

An electrolytic reactor comprises at least one electrolytic cell with an anode compartment and a cathode compartment separated by a separator, in particular a semipermeable membrane. The anode compartment comprises an inlet and an outlet for anolyte at opposed ends, said inlet and outlet being connected with each other via an anolyte circulation pipe equipped with a storage means for anolyte, an anolyte vessel and at least one adsorption filter for adsorbing molecular impurities. When molecular impurities comes from the cathode compartment through the separator, the electrolytic reactor acts also as a cleaning device for the catholyte.

A process for electrochemical preparation of sodium alkoxide is performed in an electrolysis cell having three chambers, wherein the middle chamber is separated from the cathode chamber by a solid-state electrolyte permeable to sodium ions, and from the anode chamber by a diffusion barrier. The geometry of the electrolysis cell protects the solid-state electrolyte permeable to sodium ions from acidic destruction by the pH of the anolyte that falls in the course of electrolysis. The anolyte used in the process is a brine also comprising carbonates and/or hydrogencarbonates, as well as NaCl. The process solves the problem that CO.sub.2 from these carbonates and/or hydrogencarbonates forms in the electrolysis cell during the electrolysis of this brine obtained from pretreatment. The process prevents the formation of a gas bubble in the electrolysis cell that disrupts electrolysis and reduces the contamination of the chlorine with CO.sub.2.

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 gas phase reduction apparatus of carbon dioxide includes an oxidation chamber that includes an oxidation electrode; a reduction chamber that is adjacent to the oxidation chamber and receives supplied carbon dioxide; and a porous electrode-supporting electrolyte membrane that is placed between the oxidation chamber and the reduction chamber. The porous electrode-supporting electrolyte membrane is a joined body including a porous reduction electrode joined to an electrolyte membrane. The electrolyte membrane is placed on the oxidation chamber side. The porous reduction electrode is placed on the reduction chamber side and configured to reduce the carbon dioxide by electrons from the oxidation electrode connected via a conductor.

A copper nanocatalyst, a method for preparing the copper nanocatalyst, and an application of the copper nanocatalyst in the synthesis of acetate or ammonia are provided. The copper nanocatalyst includes a substrate and an active agent loaded on the substrate. The method includes: preparing a cleaning agent by using an ethanol and a deionized; immersing the active agent in the cleaning agent, ultrasonically cleaning for 5-10 min at a frequency of 4×10.sup.4 Hz-8×10.sup.4 Hz, and drying for later use; mixing the cleaned active agent and a conductive binder according to a mass ratio of 1:19-9:1 of the active agent to the conductive binder, adding the ethanol, and fully stirring and dispersing to obtain a slurry; coating the slurry on a surface of the carbon paper, and drying the carbon paper by blowing through nitrogen flow to obtain the catalyst.

A copper nanocatalyst, a method for preparing the copper nanocatalyst, and an application of the copper nanocatalyst in the synthesis of acetate or ammonia are provided. The copper nanocatalyst includes a substrate and an active agent loaded on the substrate. The method includes: preparing a cleaning agent by using an ethanol and a deionized; immersing the active agent in the cleaning agent, ultrasonically cleaning for 5-10 min at a frequency of 4×10.sup.4 Hz-8×10.sup.4 Hz, and drying for later use; mixing the cleaned active agent and a conductive binder according to a mass ratio of 1:19-9:1 of the active agent to the conductive binder, adding the ethanol, and fully stirring and dispersing to obtain a slurry; coating the slurry on a surface of the carbon paper, and drying the carbon paper by blowing through nitrogen flow to obtain the catalyst.

An anode-side half cell for an electrochemical cell of an electrolytic apparatus for carbon dioxide electrolysis and/or carbon monoxide electrolysis, having a separator in the form of a diaphragm, which has an anode-side separator surface and a cathode-side separator surface opposite the anode-side separator surface; a catalyst layer, which has a first catalyst surface and a second catalyst surface opposite the first catalyst surface, the first catalyst surface facing the anode-side separator surface; and a fluid-permeable anode plate, which has a first anode surface, the first anode surface facing the second catalyst surface.

An anode-side half cell for an electrochemical cell of an electrolytic apparatus for carbon dioxide electrolysis and/or carbon monoxide electrolysis, having a separator in the form of a diaphragm, which has an anode-side separator surface and a cathode-side separator surface opposite the anode-side separator surface; a catalyst layer, which has a first catalyst surface and a second catalyst surface opposite the first catalyst surface, the first catalyst surface facing the anode-side separator surface; and a fluid-permeable anode plate, which has a first anode surface, the first anode surface facing the second catalyst surface.

The present invention utilizes an electrochemical catalyst which contains: a metal oxide that is composed of one or more compounds selected from among zirconium oxide, cerium oxide, yttrium oxide, gadolinium oxide, samarium oxide, cobalt oxide and scandium oxide; and a metal variant, which has a valence that is different from the valence of the metal that constitutes the metal oxide.