EAGER: Toward Electrocatalytic Reforming of Biomass-Derived Molecules -- Preliminary Studies of Ethylene Glycol

1041655美国计划使用大量的生物质作为能源。将这种资源有效转化为传统燃料需要发现和开发生物精炼的有效加工方法。所需的关键过程之一是重整以产生氢气，然后可将转化产物升级为液体燃料。重整在生物精炼中尤其重要，因为据估计，三分之一的生物质进料流必须重整为氢气，以将剩余的三分之二转化为液体燃料，主要通过除氧。水相重整作为氢源为生物精炼提供了实质性益处。来自华盛顿大学的PI Eric Stuve提出的问题是，是否存在类似的电化学途径，以及使用它们是否有任何优势。在电催化重整中，施加的电流驱动生物质衍生化合物的电氧化，以在阳极形成二氧化碳或部分氧化产物，并在阴极形成氢气。然而，电催化重整尚未得到证实，因此这个高风险的EAGER项目的目标是发现它是否存在。液相反应需要温度高达225 °C和压力高达30 atm的极端条件，不幸的是，人们对这些条件下的电化学知之甚少，这里提出的研究有可能建立一个令人兴奋的新维度的高温/高压电化学，对此知之甚少。电催化重整可能成为一种新的变革性技术，能够降低生物精炼成本，从而加快可再生生物质衍生能源在我们社会中的采用，因此具有更广泛的影响潜力。该项目本身就是华盛顿大学的NSF IGERT在可持续社会的生物资源能源方面的更广泛影响，这是一项由美国原住民雅卡马民族和北西雅图社区学院共同努力的成果。可再生能源的研究是在各级学生的强烈兴趣。在电催化重整学习和研究的机会将提供可持续能源和环境和本科研究计划的新课程。

1041655StuveThe United States plans to use significant amounts of biomass as an energy source. Effective conversion of this resource to traditional fuels requires discovery and development of efficient processing methods for biorefineries. One of the key processes needed is reforming to produce hydrogen, which is then available to upgrade conversion products to liquid fuels. Reforming is especially important in biorefining, as it is estimated one-third of the biomass feedstream must be reformed to hydrogen in order to convert the remaining two-thirds to liquid fuels, largely by oxygen removal. Aqueous phase reforming offers substantial benefits for biorefining as a hydrogen source. The question posed by the PI Eric Stuve from the University of Washington as to whether analogous electrochemical routes exist, and would there be any advantages to their use. In electrocatalytic reforming, an imposed electrical current drives electrooxidation of a biomass derived compound to form carbon dioxide or partial oxidation products at the anode and hydrogen at the cathode. Electrocatalytic reforming has not been demonstrated, however, so the goal of this high risk EAGER project is to discover whether it exists. The liquid phase reactions require extreme conditions of temperatures up to 225 °C and pressures up to 30 atm and unfortunately little is known about electrochemistry at these conditions.The research proposed here has the potential to establish an exciting new dimension of high temperature/high pressure electrochemistry about which little is known. There is substantial potential for broader impacts in that electrocatalytic reforming could become a new and transformative technology capable of reducing biorefining costs and consequently speeding the adoption of renewable, biomass-derived energy in our society.This project is itself a broader impact of the UW's NSF-IGERT in Bio-resource Based Energy for Sustainable Societies, a collaborative effort involving the Native American Yakama Nation and North Seattle Community College. Studies of renewable energy are of strong interest among students at all levels. Opportunities for study and research in electrocatalytic reforming will be provided by a new course in Sustainable Energy and the Environment and undergraduate research programs.