Electrochemical and thermal digestion of organic molecules

Abstract

Various examples are provided for electrochemical digestion of organic molecules. In one example, among others, a method includes providing a fluid mixture including organic molecules to a reaction vessel including at least one current distribution part suspended within the fluid mixture. At least a portion of the current distribution part is coated with nano catalytic powders. Current flow can be controlled through the fluid mixture to heat the fluid mixture and simultaneously cause electrolysis of the fluid mixture. In another example, a device includes a pipe section surrounding a fluid mixture including organic molecules, a current distribution part positioned within the pipe section and suspended in the fluid mixture, and an electrical coupling assembly configured to provide an electrical potential to the current distribution part for heating and electrolysis of the fluid mixture. At least a portion of the current distribution part is coated with nano catalytic powders.

1 . A method, comprising:
 providing a fluid mixture including organic molecules to a reaction vessel including at least one current distribution part suspended within the fluid mixture, where at least a portion of the current distribution part is coated with nano catalytic powders; and   controlling an electrical potential applied to the at least one current distribution part to control current flow through the fluid mixture to heat the fluid mixture and simultaneously cause electrolysis of the fluid mixture.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid mixture is pumped continuously through the reaction vessel. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the fluid mixture is circulated through a holding tank and the reaction vessel. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the nano catalytic powders are less than 50 nm in diameter. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical potential is applied to the at least one current distribution part in a square wave shape at a frequency below 1 Hz. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising sparging ozone into the fluid mixture. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid mixture contains charge-carrying ions. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the fluid mixture includes an ion source of the charge-carrying ions. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the ion source is potassium hydroxide (KOH). 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the fluid mixture is selected from the group consisting of water, biomass, fossil fuels, seawater, contaminated fluids, slurries, emulsions, pastes, liquids, gases, plasmas, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the fluid mixture contains at least one member of a group consisting of woody crops, herbaceous crops, the seeds of oil crops, and brown coal. 
     
     
         14 . A device, comprising:
 a pipe section distributed along a longitudinal axis of the device, the pipe section surrounding a fluid mixture including organic molecules;   a current distribution part positioned within the pipe section, at least a portion of the current distribution part coated with nano catalytic powders, the current distribution part suspended in the fluid mixture; and   an electrical coupling assembly configured to provide an electrical potential to the current distribution part for heating and electrolysis of the fluid mixture.   
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the fluid mixture is pumped continuously through the pipe section. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the electrical potential is applied to the current distribution part in a square wave shape at a frequency below 0.1 Hz. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the potential is applied in a square wave shape at a frequency below 0.01 Hz. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein at least a portion of the pipe section is coated with nano catalytic powders. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the current distribution part comprises an inner conductive element extending along the longitudinal axis of the device and at least one intermediate conductive tube concentric with the inner conductive element and the pipe section. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein an inner side and an outer side of the one intermediate conductive tube is coated with nano catalytic powders. 
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the current distribution part comprises an inner conductive element extending along the longitudinal axis of the device, the inner conductive element including plates extending radially outward towards the pipe section; and
 where the pipe section includes plates extending inward towards the longitudinal axis of the device, the plates of the pipe section interleaved with the plates of the current distribution part.   
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the nano catalytic powders are less than 50 nm in diameter. 
     
     
         23 - 34 . (canceled)