The invention is directed to a process for the preparation of formaldehyde, said process comprising electrochemically reducing CO to form formaldehyde. The process is carried out in a supporting electrolyte that comprises less than 50% water and a non-aqueous solvent such as an alcohol.

The invention is directed to a process for the preparation of formaldehyde, said process comprising electrochemically reducing CO to form formaldehyde. The process is carried out in a supporting electrolyte that comprises less than 50% water and a non-aqueous solvent such as an alcohol.

Disclosed are membrane electrode assemblies having a cathode layer comprising a carbon oxide reduction catalyst that promotes reduction of a carbon oxide; an anode layer comprising a catalyst that promotes oxidation of a water; a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) layer disposed between, and in contact with, the cathode layer and the anode layer; and a salt having a concentration of at least about 10 uM in at least a portion of the MEA.

Disclosed are membrane electrode assemblies having a cathode layer comprising a carbon oxide reduction catalyst that promotes reduction of a carbon oxide; an anode layer comprising a catalyst that promotes oxidation of a water; a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) layer disposed between, and in contact with, the cathode layer and the anode layer; and a salt having a concentration of at least about 10 uM in at least a portion of the MEA.

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.

Methods and systems related to the field of carbon capture and utilization are disclosed. Disclosed electrolysis reactors can have a cathode area having a cathode output and a cathode input for an input fluid and an anode area having an anode input and an anode output. The carbon input fluid contains carbon dioxide. The cathode area reduces an oxygen-containing species into hydroxide ions and reacts them with the carbon dioxide to form anions containing carbon. The anode area oxidizes one or more oxidizable species to generate a protonating species. The electrolysis reactors can have a third output for a carbon output fluid. The electrolysis reactors can begin to produce carbon dioxide from the anions containing carbon and the protonating species in response to a potential of less than 1.23 V applied across the cathode terminal and the anode terminal.

Methods and systems related to the field of carbon capture and utilization are disclosed. Disclosed electrolysis reactors can have a cathode area having a cathode output and a cathode input for an input fluid and an anode area having an anode input and an anode output. The carbon input fluid contains carbon dioxide. The cathode area reduces an oxygen-containing species into hydroxide ions and reacts them with the carbon dioxide to form anions containing carbon. The anode area oxidizes one or more oxidizable species to generate a protonating species. The electrolysis reactors can have a third output for a carbon output fluid. The electrolysis reactors can begin to produce carbon dioxide from the anions containing carbon and the protonating species in response to a potential of less than 1.23 V applied across the cathode terminal and the anode terminal.

The invention relates to a method for electrochemical production of a product in an electrochemical cell comprising an extraction compartment. The extraction compartment comprises a liquid comprising a dissolved polyelectrolyte. The method comprises producing cations at an anode, producing anions at a cathode and transporting the ions through ion- selective membranes into the extraction compartment where the product is formed. The invention further relates to an electrochemical cell for use in the method.

The invention relates to a method for electrochemical production of a product in an electrochemical cell comprising an extraction compartment. The extraction compartment comprises a liquid comprising a dissolved polyelectrolyte. The method comprises producing cations at an anode, producing anions at a cathode and transporting the ions through ion- selective membranes into the extraction compartment where the product is formed. The invention further relates to an electrochemical cell for use in the method.