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.

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.

A novel magnesium-based alloy is described. The alloy is particularly suitable for the construction of electrodes, especially anodes, that can be used for an electrochemical process, such as the synthesis of struvite. The magnesium-based alloy is an AZXY alloy in which A is aluminium and Z is zinc, X represents the content, expressed in wt. %, of the first element, and Y the content, expressed in wt. %, of the second element. The AZXY alloy according to the invention has 2%≤X≤4% and 0.5%≤Y≤2%, and an iron (Fe) content of less than 0.005%, and preferably less than 0.003%. The anodes constituted by this novel alloy have a much slower corrosion speed and improved performances compared to existing anodes. An electrode cartridge comprising said alloy and suitable for being inserted into an electrolytic reactor so as to form, once assembled, an electrocoagulation unit, is also described.

The present invention relates to a carbon-assisted solid oxide electrolysis cell comprising: a cathode, an electrolyte, an anode, and an anode chamber set in the order. The cathode is supplied with water as an oxidant and the reduction reaction occurs. The anode chamber includes carbon fuel and CO.sub.2 absorber, supplied with the water as in situ gasification agent, wherein the water assists the gasification of the carbon fuel to generate CO and H.sub.2. The O.sup.2− ions generated by cathode are transported to the anode through the electrolyte, and react with CO and H.sub.2 generated in the anode chamber as oxidant. The CO produced by the carbon gasification reaction partly reacts with water to generate CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2, while the CO.sub.2 absorber promotes the production of H.sub.2 by absorbing the CO.sub.2 produced by the water gas shift reaction. The present invention can control the internal gas composition of the CA-SOEC anode effectively, improving the performance of the carbon-assisted electrolysis cell and reducing energy consumption. Furthermore, the present invention achieves the simultaneous generation of fuel gas by the cathode and the anode, significantly improving the efficiency of the electrolysis.

The present invention relates to a carbon-assisted solid oxide electrolysis cell comprising: a cathode, an electrolyte, an anode, and an anode chamber set in the order. The cathode is supplied with water as an oxidant and the reduction reaction occurs. The anode chamber includes carbon fuel and CO.sub.2 absorber, supplied with the water as in situ gasification agent, wherein the water assists the gasification of the carbon fuel to generate CO and H.sub.2. The O.sup.2− ions generated by cathode are transported to the anode through the electrolyte, and react with CO and H.sub.2 generated in the anode chamber as oxidant. The CO produced by the carbon gasification reaction partly reacts with water to generate CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2, while the CO.sub.2 absorber promotes the production of H.sub.2 by absorbing the CO.sub.2 produced by the water gas shift reaction. The present invention can control the internal gas composition of the CA-SOEC anode effectively, improving the performance of the carbon-assisted electrolysis cell and reducing energy consumption. Furthermore, the present invention achieves the simultaneous generation of fuel gas by the cathode and the anode, significantly improving the efficiency of the electrolysis.

An object is to provide a methane synthesis device having as a whole a reduced size and a simplified configuration. A methane synthesis device 100 is composed of respective components from an end plate 2 at the leftmost side to an end plate 23 at the rightmost side and is compactly assembled by fastening plural bolts and nuts to bring these individual components into tightly contact with each other. The components may be divided into a Sabatier reaction unit of signs 3 to 9, a water electrolysis unit of signs 13 to 19, and other components. Hydrogen gas generated in the water electrolysis unit is mixed with carbon dioxide gas and supplied to the Sabatier reaction unit, and methane is synthesized in the Sabatier reaction unit. The size of the device is reduced as a whole and configuration is simplified by integrally stacking the water electrolysis unit, the Sabatier reaction unit, a carbon dioxide supplying unit, and a hydrogen gas supplying unit.

An object is to provide a methane synthesis device having as a whole a reduced size and a simplified configuration. A methane synthesis device 100 is composed of respective components from an end plate 2 at the leftmost side to an end plate 23 at the rightmost side and is compactly assembled by fastening plural bolts and nuts to bring these individual components into tightly contact with each other. The components may be divided into a Sabatier reaction unit of signs 3 to 9, a water electrolysis unit of signs 13 to 19, and other components. Hydrogen gas generated in the water electrolysis unit is mixed with carbon dioxide gas and supplied to the Sabatier reaction unit, and methane is synthesized in the Sabatier reaction unit. The size of the device is reduced as a whole and configuration is simplified by integrally stacking the water electrolysis unit, the Sabatier reaction unit, a carbon dioxide supplying unit, and a hydrogen gas supplying unit.

Herein discussed is an electrochemical reactor comprising a first electrode, wherein the first electrode is liquid when the reactor is in operation; a second electrode having a metallic phase and a ceramic phase, wherein the metallic phase is electronically conductive and wherein the ceramic phase is ionically conductive; and a membrane, wherein the membrane is positioned between the first and second electrodes and is in contact with the first and second electrodes, wherein the membrane is mixed conducting. Also discussed herein is a method of producing hydrogen or carbon monoxide comprising: (a) providing an electrochemical reactor having an anode, a cathode, and a membrane between the anode and the cathode, wherein the anode is liquid when the reactor is in operation and wherein the membrane is mixed conducting; (b) introducing a feedstock to the anode; (c) introducing a stream to the cathode, wherein the stream comprises water or carbon dioxide.

An object is to provide a methane synthesis device having as a whole a reduced size and a simplified configuration. A methane synthesis device 100 is composed of respective components from an end plate 2 at the leftmost side to an end plate 23 at the rightmost side and is compactly assembled by fastening plural bolts and nuts to bring these individual components into tightly contact with each other. The components may be divided into a Sabatier reaction unit of signs 3 to 9, a water electrolysis unit of signs 13 to 19, and other components. Hydrogen gas generated in the water electrolysis unit is mixed with carbon dioxide gas and supplied to the Sabatier reaction unit, and methane is synthesized in the Sabatier reaction unit. The size of the device is reduced as a whole and configuration is simplified by integrally stacking the water electrolysis unit, the Sabatier reaction unit, a carbon dioxide supplying unit, and a hydrogen gas supplying unit.

An object is to provide a methane synthesis device having as a whole a reduced size and a simplified configuration. A methane synthesis device 100 is composed of respective components from an end plate 2 at the leftmost side to an end plate 23 at the rightmost side and is compactly assembled by fastening plural bolts and nuts to bring these individual components into tightly contact with each other. The components may be divided into a Sabatier reaction unit of signs 3 to 9, a water electrolysis unit of signs 13 to 19, and other components. Hydrogen gas generated in the water electrolysis unit is mixed with carbon dioxide gas and supplied to the Sabatier reaction unit, and methane is synthesized in the Sabatier reaction unit. The size of the device is reduced as a whole and configuration is simplified by integrally stacking the water electrolysis unit, the Sabatier reaction unit, a carbon dioxide supplying unit, and a hydrogen gas supplying unit.