SBIR Phase II: Electrochemical Synthesis of Propylene Oxide Under Reductive Conditions

9801001白色 小企业创新研究（SBIR）第二阶段项目旨在 开发了一种廉价的（一步）、环境友好的、选择性的丙烯和其它烯烃环氧化方法。对该方法的兴趣源于环氧丙烷的高生产成本。第二阶段计划将使用一种工艺来解决选择性和高速丙烯环氧化问题， 电化学产生的过氧化氢直接与丙烯在选择性环氧化催化剂上反应，该催化剂将被放置在非常靠近但与阴极的过氧化氢产生区域分开的空间区域中。第二阶段的研究工作将包括分别优化阴极电催化剂组成，阴极配置和工艺操作条件。一个按比例放大的原型电化学电池将设计，制造和运行在这个计划。该计划的完成将导致一个优化的工艺，选择性和廉价转化丙烯氧化丙烯在高速率。在90- 100%的目标选择性的情况下，预期产物电解质的非常有效的分离将是可能的。此外，当以燃料模式操作时，该过程还将能够共同产生有价值的副产品和电力。 圆满完成了建议。该计划将导致使用原位电化学产生的过氧化氢低成本、选择性和高速率合成烯烃环氧化物的一步法。该方法可能适用于其他充氧系统。

9801001 White This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is directed at development of an inexpensive (one step), environmentally benign, selective process for epoxidizing propylene and other olefins. Interest in this process stems from the high production cost of propylene oxide. The Phase II program will address selective and high rate propylene epoxidation using a process where electrochemically generated hydrogen peroxide is directly reacted with propylene over a selective epoxidation catalyst which will be placed in a spatial region very near, but separate from the hydrogen peroxide-generating region of the cathode. The Phase II research effort will consist of optimizing respectively cathode electrocatalyst composition, cathode configuration, and process operating conditions. A scaled up prototype electrochemical cell will be designed, fabricated and operating during this program. Completion of the program will result in an optimized process for selectively and inexpensively converting propylene to propylene oxide at high rates. With a targeted selectivity of the order of 90-100%, it is anticipated that very efficient separation of product electrolyte will be possible. In addition the process will also be capable of cogenerating valuable by products and electricity when operated in the fuel mode. Successful completion of the proposed. program will result in a one-step process for the low cost, selective, and high rate synthesis of olefin epoxides using in situ electrochemically generated hydrogen peroxide. The process is potentially applicable to other oxygenation systems.