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Electrosynthesis of ethylene glycol from C1 feedstocks in a flow electrolyzer

Author

Listed:
  • Rong Xia

    (Tianjin University
    University of Delaware)

  • Ruoyu Wang

    (The University of Texas at Austin)

  • Bjorn Hasa

    (University of Delaware)

  • Ahryeon Lee

    (University of Delaware)

  • Yuanyue Liu

    (The University of Texas at Austin)

  • Xinbin Ma

    (Tianjin University)

  • Feng Jiao

    (University of Delaware)

Abstract

Ethylene glycol is a widely utilized commodity chemical, the production of which accounts for over 46 million tons of CO2 emission annually. Here we report a paired electrocatalytic approach for ethylene glycol production from methanol. Carbon catalysts are effective in reducing formaldehyde into ethylene glycol with a 92% Faradaic efficiency, whereas Pt catalysts at the anode enable formaldehyde production through methanol partial oxidation with a 75% Faradaic efficiency. With a membrane-electrode assembly configuration, we show the feasibility of ethylene glycol electrosynthesis from methanol in a single electrolyzer. The electrolyzer operates a full cell voltage of 3.2 V at a current density of 100 mA cm−2, with a 60% reduction in energy consumption. Further investigations, using operando flow electrolyzer mass spectroscopy, isotopic labeling, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, indicate that the desorption of a *CH2OH intermediate is the crucial step in determining the selectively towards ethylene glycol over methanol.

Suggested Citation

  • Rong Xia & Ruoyu Wang & Bjorn Hasa & Ahryeon Lee & Yuanyue Liu & Xinbin Ma & Feng Jiao, 2023. "Electrosynthesis of ethylene glycol from C1 feedstocks in a flow electrolyzer," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-40296-9
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40296-9
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kaiwu Dong & Saravanakumar Elangovan & Rui Sang & Anke Spannenberg & Ralf Jackstell & Kathrin Junge & Yuehui Li & Matthias Beller, 2016. "Selective catalytic two-step process for ethylene glycol from carbon monoxide," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-7, November.
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