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.

Methods of selectively modifying lignin, polycarboxylated products thereof, and methods of deriving aromatic compounds therefrom. The methods comprise electrochemically oxidizing lignin using stable nitroxyl radicals to selectively oxidize primary hydroxyls on β-O-4 phenylpropanoid units to corresponding carboxylic acids while leaving the secondary hydroxyls unchanged. The oxidation results in polycarboxylated lignin in the form of a polymeric β-hydroxy acid. The polymeric β-hydroxy acid has a high loading of carboxylic acid and can be isolated in acid form, deprotonated, and/or converted to a salt. The β-hydroxy acid, anion, or salt can also be subjected to acidolysis to generate various aromatic monomers or oligomers. The initial oxidation of lignin to the polycarboxylated form renders the lignin more susceptible to acidolysis and thereby enhances the yield of aromatic monomers and oligomers obtained through acidolysis.

There are provided methods and systems for an electrochemical cell including an anode and a cathode where the anode is contacted with a metal ion that converts the metal ion from a lower oxidation state to a higher oxidation state. The metal ion in the higher oxidation state is reacted with an unsaturated hydrocarbon and/or a saturated hydrocarbon to form products. Separation and/or purification of the products as well as of the metal ions in the lower oxidation state and the higher oxidation state, is provided herein.

Solution-phase (e.g., homogeneous) or surface-immobilized (e.g., heterogeneous) electrode-driven oxidation catalysts based on iridium coordination compounds which self-assemble upon chemical or electrochemical oxidation of suitable precursors and methods of making and using thereof are. Iridium species such as {[Ir(LX).sub.x(H.sub.2O).sub.y(μ-O)].sub.z.sup.m+}.sub.n wherein x, y, m are integers from 0-4, z and n from 1-4 and LX is an oxidation-resistant chelate ligand or ligands, such as such as 2(2-pyridyl)-2-propanolate, form upon oxidation of various molecular iridium complexes, for instance [Cp*Ir(LX)OH] or [(cod)Ir(LX)] (Cp*=pentamethylcyclopentadienyl, cod=cis-cis,1,5-cyclooctadiene) when exposed to oxidative conditions, such as sodium periodate (NaIO.sub.4) in aqueous solution at ambient conditions.

A reactor and process capable of concurrently producing electric power and selectively oxidizing gaseous components in a feed stream, such as hydrocarbons to unsaturated products, which are useful intermediates in the production of liquid fuels. The reactor includes an oxidation membrane, a reduction membrane, an electron barrier, and a conductor. The oxidation membrane and reduction membrane include an MIEC oxide. The electron barrier, located between the oxidation membrane and the reduction membrane, is configured to allow transmission of oxygen anions from the reduction membrane to the oxidation membrane and resist transmission of electrons from the oxidation membrane to the reduction membrane. The conductor conducts electrons from the oxidation membrane to the reduction membrane.

A method for manufacturing a palladium coated doped metal oxide conducting electrode including immersing a metal oxide conducting electrode into an aqueous solution having a palladium precursor salt to form the metal oxide conducting electrode having at least one surface coated with palladium precursor. To form a layer of palladium nanoparticles on the metal oxide conducting electrode the palladium precursor on the metal oxide conducting is reduced with a borohydride compound. The palladium nanoparticles on the metal oxide conducting electrode have an average diameter of 8 nm to 22 nm and are present on the surface of the metal oxide conducting electrode at a density from 1.5×10.sup.−3 Pd.Math.nm.sup.−2 to 3.5×10.sup.−3 Pd.Math.nm.sup.−2.

A method of producing oil, gas, and ash fertilizer from a feedstock includes inputting the feedstock into a reaction chamber having a wall, and combusting the feedstock in the reaction chamber. An electrical current flow is induced between the reaction chamber wall and the feedstock so as to cause arcing in the feedstock within the reaction chamber. Ash reaction byproducts migrate downward through the reaction chamber onto ash support structure, which is substantially electrically isolated from the reaction chamber wall. Gas and liquid reaction byproducts migrate upward through the reaction chamber to an upper chamber by a partial vacuum in the upper chamber, and are evacuated therefrom. The oil and gas are then separated from the evacuated gas/liquid products, providing the oil and the gas products. The oil is refinable, the gas is high in energy content, and the ash fertilizer is high in nitrogen.

This invention relates to a method of selection of an electrocatalyst array for a desired product outcome. The method comprises exposing an electrocatalyst system to an active agent dissolved or suspended in a conductive solution; and applying a voltage to the electrocatalyst system. The voltage sufficient to cause a multi-electron oxidation or multi-electron reduction of the active species; the electrocatalyst system comprises a counter electrode; and an electrocatalyst array. The array comprising a support substrate; uniformly sized surface structures protruding from a surface of the support substrate; the uniformly sized surface structures have edges and/or apices comprising a catalyst. When the uniformly sized surface structures are of a micrometer scale a first product ratio is produced, when the uniformly sized surface structures are of a nanometer scale a second product ratio is produced, wherein the first and second product ratios are different; the second product ratio requires a higher order electron process compared to producing the first product ratio.

The present invention provides an integrated system comprising: an electrocatalysis device, in which an oxidation reaction is carried out at an anode by an electrocatalysis of glycerol, and at a cathode hydrogen is produced through a reduction reaction; and a chemical catalysis device for producing butene oligomers from lignocellulosic biomass through a hydrogenation process, wherein the hydrogen produced by the electrocatalysis device is used for the production of the butene oligomers by the chemical catalysis device, and a thermal energy of the electrocatalysis device and the chemical catalysis device is exchanged with each other. The integrated system according to the present invention can reduce the cost of materials of a process for preparing butene oligomers by using hydrogen, which is a byproduct of a process for preparing glycerol derivatives, as a material of a process for preparing the butene oligomers through the integration of materials and energy from the processes for preparing glycerol derivatives and butene oligomers, and can obtain an effect of reducing energy costs by greatly reducing energy required in an integrated process by supplying, as a part of a thermal energy required at the process for preparing glycerol derivatives, the waste heat of the process for preparing the butene oligomers through the construction of a thermal energy integration network.