Feasibility Studies of a Fuel Cell for Cogeneration of Homogeneously Catalyzed Acetaldehyde and Electricity from Ethanol

Abstract

The development and feasibility of a novel fuel cell for simultaneously generating electricity and homogeneously catalyzed acetaldehyde from ethanol are reported. The fuel cell is based on the supported molten-salt electrocatalysis technique that allows use of homogeneous (liquid-phase) catalysts in fuel cells for the first time. The electrocatalytic reaction combines the chemistry of the Wacker process conventionally used for acetaldehyde production from the partial oxidation of ethylene and that of the Veba-Chemie method. Nafion membranes impregnated with different electrolytic materials were used in the fuel cell as electrolytes to allow operation at reaction temperatures up to 165°C. Results obtained are com~arable to those revorted in the literature on ~a r t i a l oxidation of ethylene to acetaldehyde in a fuel cell based on con-ven6onal heterogeneok electrocatalysts.

Comparison of ethanol and methanol crossover through different MEA components and structures by cyclic voltammetry

“…These R&Ds were mainly related to the mechanism and electrocatalysis of direct ethanol fuel cells at working temperatures over 145 • C. Datta et al . [6] have reported the development and feasibility of a novel fuel cell for the simultaneous generation *Correspondence to: Prof. O. Savadogo, Laboratory of New Materials for Electrochemistry and Energy,École Polytechnique de Montréal, C.P.6079, Succursale Centre-Ville, Montreal, Quebec H3C 3A7, Canada. E-mail: osavadogo@polymtl.ca † In memory of Dr Ling. of electricity and homogeneously catalyzed preparation of acetaldehyde from ethanol.…”

Selective synthesis of MeCHO by C2H4–(O2+NO) cell system

“…3,4 The cell system has additional advantages, (iii) the reaction rate and the current are easily controlled by variable resistance, and (iv) the danger of explosion is reduced because C 2 H 4 and O 2 are separated by the membrane. 1,[5][6][7] However, the rate of MeCHO formation attained in this C 2 H 4 -O 2 cell system (1 ~2 TON per Pd atom in 1 h) 1 has to be improved dramatically. The TON obtained in the current Wacker process is greater than 10.…”