Applied Interfacial Electrochemical Technology

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This Discovery Grant will advance my interfacial electrochemical research program in 3 areas. The newest research has developed a low energy method of converting carbon dioxide to value added products. USA and PCT applications have been submitted to protect this novel electrochemical technology which potentially could lead to commercial carbon dioxide sequestration and valorization of greenhouse gases. This technology electrochemically activates CO2 to build longer chain molecules from simple hydrocarbons. The discovery has arisen from the PI's research on electrochemical engineering surfaces where solids and liquids interact. The second target in the continuing research program is modification of the surface chemistry of activated carbons so that ionically charged species can be accumulated and stored in the nano and micro pore structures. Work on improving charge storage for supercapacitors will continue but in this application there will be a focus on electrocapacitive deionization using modified activated carbons. This technology appears ideal for remote site groundwater cleanup. The technology combines the excellent absorption capacity of our engineered activated carbons and voltage field effects to capture and sequester groundwater contaminants. The third focus area advances the electrochemical reactor designs needed for scaleup of the CO2 conversion and the electrocapacitive deionization technologies. This research on the electrified interface has been the foundation for the novel applications developed in this program. The new CO2 technology uses simultaneous and independent activation of the oxidation and reduction reactants. For proof of concept, glycerol, a by-product from the production of biodiesel, was used for as a CO2 coupling agent. Glycerol was an ideal starting material since it is a low value by-product of biodiesel production. While electrochemical reduction of CO2 and oxidation of glycerol are actively being studied by many research groups, this novel electrochemical technology couples the reactants and restricts the degree of oxidation and reduction so that only a limited number of products can form. Thus separation and product recovery are very much more economical. Starting with glycerol two higher molecular weight compounds (138 and 220) were produced as liquids and are potentially novel, truly green solvents. This research program has created a number of industrial and commercial products. As examples, the research program has produced the products Sulfachar and EcoCarbon. Sulfachar is highly effective in capturing and converting gaseous sulphur species from biogas into a sulphur impregnated biochar product. EcoCarbon is a highly efficient carbon for capturing mercury from stack gases. Both products and patents have been acquired (2018) by CharTechnologies for commercialization. From the reactor research, a patented advanced alkaline electrolyser was developed for Stuart Energy. Funding is critical.