Electrocatalytic apparatus for the simultaneous conversion of methane and CO.sub.2 into methanol via an elctrochemical reactor operating at ambient temperature and pressure, said electrochemical reactor simultaneously converts CO.sub.2 to methanol by surficial catalytic reaction on the cathode, and methane to methanol by surficial catalytic reaction on the anode. The electrochemical reactor futher works with an electrolyte consisting of electrolytic complexes of water-soluable transition metals and small molecules as co-catalyst of the electrocatalytic reactions and facilitator of ionic transfer and solubility of CO.sub.2 and CH.sub.4 molecules in the electrolyte. The electrochemical reactor is further equipped with zero-gap membrane electrocatalytic electrode assemlics, the cathode and anode comprising two electrocatalytic mesoporous surfaces and being tubular and coaxial, delineating two regions, which are separated one from the other by an ion exchange membrane (27). The tubular electrodes pack vertically together, the external gaps being filled by an insulating material. The packed electrodes are electronically connected to the power source in a parallel electrical circuit.

Electrocatalytic apparatus for the simultaneous conversion of methane and CO.sub.2 into methanol via an elctrochemical reactor operating at ambient temperature and pressure, said electrochemical reactor simultaneously converts CO.sub.2 to methanol by surficial catalytic reaction on the cathode, and methane to methanol by surficial catalytic reaction on the anode. The electrochemical reactor futher works with an electrolyte consisting of electrolytic complexes of water-soluable transition metals and small molecules as co-catalyst of the electrocatalytic reactions and facilitator of ionic transfer and solubility of CO.sub.2 and CH.sub.4 molecules in the electrolyte. The electrochemical reactor is further equipped with zero-gap membrane electrocatalytic electrode assemlics, the cathode and anode comprising two electrocatalytic mesoporous surfaces and being tubular and coaxial, delineating two regions, which are separated one from the other by an ion exchange membrane (27). The tubular electrodes pack vertically together, the external gaps being filled by an insulating material. The packed electrodes are electronically connected to the power source in a parallel electrical circuit.

One aspect of the present invention provides a sodium hydroxide production device, which includes: a first tank configured to store a sodium salt including two or more sodium ions in a molecule; a first electrolysis unit including a first anode chamber and a first cathode chamber which are partitioned by a first separator; and a water supply unit configured to supply water to the first tank and the first cathode chamber, wherein the first tank, a pipe configured to supply an aqueous sodium salt solution produced in the first tank to the first anode chamber, the first anode chamber, and a pipe configured to supply a material produced in the first anode chamber to the first tank constitute a closed loop, and a sodium hypochlorite production device including the same.

One aspect of the present invention provides a sodium hydroxide production device, which includes: a first tank configured to store a sodium salt including two or more sodium ions in a molecule; a first electrolysis unit including a first anode chamber and a first cathode chamber which are partitioned by a first separator; and a water supply unit configured to supply water to the first tank and the first cathode chamber, wherein the first tank, a pipe configured to supply an aqueous sodium salt solution produced in the first tank to the first anode chamber, the first anode chamber, and a pipe configured to supply a material produced in the first anode chamber to the first tank constitute a closed loop, and a sodium hypochlorite production device including the same.

A system and associated method for producing an HOCl solution and an NaOH solution includes a generator operable for producing the HOCl and NaOH solutions utilizing electricity and a mixture of water and brine in an electrolysis cell. The generator includes a mechanical fixed flow restrictor (FFR) operable for controlling at least one of a pH of the HOCl solution and a free available chlorine (FAC) of the HOCl solution. The FFR includes an insert having a longitudinal fluid passageway. The length of the insert and the diameter of the fluid passageway are selected to control the pH of the HOCl solution and/or the FAC of the HOCl solution. The FFR is interchangeable so that the pH of the HOCl solution and/or the FAC of the HOCl solution can be precisely controlled.

Systems and methods for use in extracting oil from solid plant-based materials are described. The systems and methods use an electrolyzed carrier fluid made from a hydroxide brine for contacting with plant-based material to thereby separate oil from solid plant particulate. The electrolyzed carrier fluid can have a reductive oxidation-reduction-potential (ORP) of −700 mV or more, such as in the range of from about −900 mV to about −1000 mV.

Systems and methods for use in extracting oil from solid plant-based materials are described. The systems and methods use an electrolyzed carrier fluid made from a hydroxide brine for contacting with plant-based material to thereby separate oil from solid plant particulate. The electrolyzed carrier fluid can have a reductive oxidation-reduction-potential (ORP) of −700 mV or more, such as in the range of from about −900 mV to about −1000 mV.

Disclosed herein are methods and systems that relate to electrochemically producing hydrogen gas by maintaining a steady-state pH differential of greater than 1 between an anode electrolyte and a cathode electrolyte in a hydrogen-gas generating electrochemical cell.

An electrochemical reactor system adapted for producing a chemical product from a reactant includes (a) separate electrochemical and production cells and (b) a charge carrier compound in a catholyte adapted to effectively decouple the charging of the charge carrier compound in the electrochemical cell with the electrochemical conversion of a reactant to a desired chemical product in the production cell.

An electrochemical reactor system adapted for producing a chemical product from a reactant includes (a) separate electrochemical and production cells and (b) a charge carrier compound in a catholyte adapted to effectively decouple the charging of the charge carrier compound in the electrochemical cell with the electrochemical conversion of a reactant to a desired chemical product in the production cell.