Method for electrochemically assisted upgrade of hydrocarbons

Abstract

A method for upgrading a hydrocarbon using active hydrogen, includes the steps of: feeding a hydrocarbon to a two-compartment cell having a first compartment, a second compartment and a membrane dividing the compartments, wherein the hydrocarbon is fed to the first compartment which functions as a chemical compartment; feeding a source of hydrogen to the second compartment which functions as an electrochemical compartment; and pulsing an electric current or cathodic current across the second compartment.

1 . A method for upgrading a hydrocarbon using active hydrogen, comprising the steps of:
 feeding a hydrocarbon to a two-compartment cell having a first compartment, a second compartment and a membrane dividing the compartments, wherein the hydrocarbon is fed to the first compartment;   feeding a source of hydrogen to the second compartment; and   pulsing an electric current across the second compartment.   
     
     
         2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the pulsing step comprises alternating between current ON periods and current OFF periods. 
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the current OFF periods allow for spontaneous release of accumulated hydrogen from the membrane. 
     
     
         4 . The method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the current ON periods last between 5 and 20 minutes. 
     
     
         5 . The method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the current OFF periods last between about 1 and 10 minutes. 
     
     
         6 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the-membrane comprises a palladium foil having a palladium black surface finish. 
     
     
         7 . The method as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the palladium black surface finish has a surface roughness factor of between 100 and 200. 
     
     
         8 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of maintaining temperature in the cell between about 20 and about 40° C. 
     
     
         9 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the pulsing step comprises pulsing current density between −0.5 and −10 mA cm −2 . 
     
     
         10 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbon contains a substrate selected from the group consisting of thiophene, 4,6-DMDBTP, QUI and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The method as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the palladium foil has a thickness of between about 0.125 and about 0.300 mm. 
     
     
         12 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the source of hydrogen in the second compartment is an alkaline solution.