A carbon-efficient bicarbonate electrolyzer

Abstract

Described herein is a carbon-efficient bicarbonate electrolyzer and assembly. In some embodiments, an electrolyzer assembly comprises: a cathode disposed in a cathode chamber having ports for receiving a bicarbonate (HCO3−) solution; an anode disposed in an anode chamber having ports for receiving an anolyte; a cation exchange membrane disposed between the cathode chamber and the anode chamber; and a buffer layer disposed between the cathode chamber and the cation exchange membrane. In some embodiments, the electrolyzer assembly is configured to convert the bicarbonate (HCO3−) solution to a formate (OOCH−) solution by movement of cations from the anode to the cathode via the cation exchange membrane.

1 . An electrolyzer, comprising:
 a cathode configured to receive a bicarbonate (HCO 3   − ) solution;   an anode configured to receive an anolyte; and   a cation exchange membrane disposed between the cathode and the anode,   wherein the electrolyzer is configured to convert the bicarbonate (HCO 3   − ) solution to a formate (OOCH − ) solution by movement of cations from the anode to the cathode via the cation exchange membrane.   
     
     
         2 . The electrolyzer of  claim 1 , wherein the bicarbonate (HCO 3   − ) solution comprises potassium bicarbonate, sodium bicarbonate, or calcium bicarbonate. 
     
     
         3 . The electrolyzer of  claim 1 , wherein the formate (OOCH − ) solution comprises potassium formate, sodium formate, or calcium formate. 
     
     
         4 . The electrolyzer of  claim 1 , wherein the bicarbonate (HCO 3   − ) solution is a liquid and the formate (OOCH − ) solution is a liquid or a mixture of a solid and a liquid. 
     
     
         5 . The electrolyzer of  claim 1 , wherein the bicarbonate (HCO 3   − ) solution is provided within a cathode chamber of the cathode, wherein the cathode chamber has a pressurized gas phase in a headspace of the cathode chamber sealed from an external air, wherein a pressure in the cathode chamber is controlled by a CO 2  gas cylinder to between 0.01 MPa and 30 MPa. 
     
     
         6 . The electrolyzer of  claim 5 , wherein the cathode chamber further comprises a CO 2  gas in the headspace of the cathode chamber, wherein the CO 2  gas cylinder controls a partial pressure of the CO 2  gas to between 0.001 MPa and 30 MPa. 
     
     
         7 . The electrolyzer of  claim 5 , wherein a temperature in the cathode is controlled using at least a heating pad to between 0 degrees Celsius and 300 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         8 . The electrolyzer of  claim 1 , wherein the anolyte has a specific initial pH between 5 and 7 and the bicarbonate (HCO 3   − ) solution has a specific initial pH between 6 and 9. 
     
     
         9 . The electrolyzer of  claim 1 , wherein the cathode includes a substrate loaded with tin nanoparticles. 
     
     
         10 . The electrolyzer of  claim 1 , further comprising a buffer layer disposed between the cathode and the cation exchange membrane, wherein the buffer layer comprises one or more glass fibers impregnated with a bicarbonate. 
     
     
         11 . A electrolyzer assembly, comprising:
 a cathode disposed in a cathode chamber having ports for receiving a bicarbonate (HCO 3   − ) solution;   an anode disposed in an anode chamber having ports for receiving an anolyte;   a cation exchange membrane disposed between the cathode chamber and the anode chamber; and   a buffer layer disposed between the cathode chamber and the cation exchange membrane,   wherein the electrolyzer assembly is configured to convert the bicarbonate (HCO 3   − ) solution to a formate (OOCH − ) solution by movement of cations from the anode to the cathode via the cation exchange membrane.   
     
     
         12 . The electrolyzer assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the bicarbonate (HCO 3   − ) solution comprises potassium bicarbonate, sodium bicarbonate, or calcium bicarbonate, wherein the bicarbonate (HCO 3   − ) solution is a liquid, wherein the formate (OOCH − ) solution comprises potassium formate, sodium formate, or calcium formate, and wherein the formate (OOCH − ) solution is a liquid or a mixture of a solid and a liquid. 
     
     
         13 . The electrolyzer assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the cathode chamber has a pressurized gas phase in a headspace of the cathode chamber sealed from an external air, wherein a pressure in the cathode chamber is controlled by a CO 2  gas cylinder to between 0.01 MPa and 30 MPa. 
     
     
         14 . The electrolyzer assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the cathode chamber further comprises a CO 2  gas in the headspace of the cathode chamber, wherein the CO 2  gas cylinder controls a partial pressure of the CO 2  gas to between 0.001 MPa and 30 MPa. 
     
     
         15 . The electrolyzer assembly of  claim 11 , wherein a temperature in the cathode is controlled using at least a heating pad to between 0 degrees Celsius and 300 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         16 . The electrolyzer assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the anolyte has a specific initial pH between 5 and 7 and the bicarbonate (HCO 3   − ) solution has a specific initial pH between 6 and 9. 
     
     
         17 . A electrolyzer assembly, comprising:
 a cathode disposed in a cathode chamber having ports for receiving a bicarbonate (HCO 3   − ) solution, wherein the cathode chamber has a pressurized gas phase in a headspace of the cathode chamber sealed from an external air with a pressure in the cathode chamber controlled by a CO 2  gas cylinder to between 0.01 MPa and 30 MPa, wherein a temperature in the cathode chamber is controlled using at least a heating pad to between 0 degrees Celsius and 300 degrees Celsius;   an anode disposed in an anode chamber having ports for receiving an anolyte;   a cation exchange membrane disposed between the cathode chamber and the anode chamber; and   a buffer layer disposed between the cathode chamber and the cation exchange membrane,   wherein the electrolyzer assembly is configured to convert the bicarbonate (HCO 3   − ) solution to a formate (OOCH − ) solution by movement of cations from the anode to the cathode via the cation exchange membrane.   
     
     
         18 . The electrolyzer assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the bicarbonate (HCO 3   − ) solution comprises potassium bicarbonate, sodium bicarbonate, or calcium bicarbonate, wherein the bicarbonate (HCO 3   − ) solution is a liquid, wherein the formate (OOCH − ) solution comprises potassium formate, sodium formate, or calcium formate, and wherein the formate (OOCH − ) solution is a liquid or a mixture of a solid and a liquid. 
     
     
         19 . The electrolyzer assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the cathode chamber further comprises a CO 2  gas in the headspace of the cathode chamber, wherein the CO 2  gas cylinder controls a partial pressure of the CO 2  gas to between 0.001 MPa and 30 MPa. 
     
     
         20 . The electrolyzer assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the anolyte has a specific initial pH between 5 and 7 and the bicarbonate (HCO 3   − ) solution has a specific initial pH between 6 and 9.