ELECTROCARB Electrochemical fixation of carbon dioxide into adipic acid in a membraneless electrolyser with non-sacrifical anodes

Summary

Carbon capture and utilization (CCU) technologies are extensively studied as potential solutions to reduce rising CO2 levels in the atmosphere. Among all CCU technologies, the electrochemical reduction of CO2 using renewable energy has emerged as a promising technology for converting CO2 into useful chemicals and fuels. Especially, the utilisation of CO2 via electrochemical carboxylation is a green and promising route for the synthesis of important carboxylic acids. However, the current electrocarboxylation processes have two serious challenges: first, the use of sacrificial anodes requires regular replacement of these anodes thereby limiting operational time and increasing maintenance costs, and second, the current systems need specialized and expensive membranes.
ELECTROCARB aims to overcome these challenges with an innovative membraneless electrolyser concept using non-sacrificial anodes for the synthesis of adipic acid via electrocarboxylation of 1,3-butadiene with CO2. The project is multi-disciplinary as it lies at the interface between electrochemistry and electrochemical engineering, including computational fluid dynamics modelling, electrode development, cell construction, scaling up, and techno-economic analysis. ELECTROCARB will have a significant scientific and societal impact as findings from this project will play a pivotal role in the development of other green electrocarboxylation processes. Moreover, the proposed work is in line with the EU strategy for the sustainable development goals of “climate action” and thus contributes to the enhancement of EU scientific excellence. The project will advance my future career by providing multidisciplinary skills along with management, leadership, and entrepreneurship related skills through my non-academic placement.

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Web resources:	https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101153946
Start date:	01-05-2024
End date:	31-08-2026
Total budget - Public funding:	- 218 895,00 Euro

Cordis data

Original description

Carbon capture and utilization (CCU) technologies are extensively studied as potential solutions to reduce rising CO2 levels in the atmosphere. Among all CCU technologies, the electrochemical reduction of CO2 using renewable energy has emerged as a promising technology for converting CO2 into useful chemicals and fuels. Especially, the utilisation of CO2 via electrochemical carboxylation is a green and promising route for the synthesis of important carboxylic acids. However, the current electrocarboxylation processes have two serious challenges: first, the use of sacrificial anodes requires regular replacement of these anodes thereby limiting operational time and increasing maintenance costs, and second, the current systems need specialized and expensive membranes.
ELECTROCARB aims to overcome these challenges with an innovative membraneless electrolyser concept using non-sacrificial anodes for the synthesis of adipic acid via electrocarboxylation of 1,3-butadiene with CO2. The project is multi-disciplinary as it lies at the interface between electrochemistry and electrochemical engineering, including computational fluid dynamics modelling, electrode development, cell construction, scaling up, and techno-economic analysis. ELECTROCARB will have a significant scientific and societal impact as findings from this project will play a pivotal role in the development of other green electrocarboxylation processes. Moreover, the proposed work is in line with the EU strategy for the sustainable development goals of climate action and thus contributes to the enhancement of EU scientific excellence. The project will advance my future career by providing multidisciplinary skills along with management, leadership, and entrepreneurship related skills through my non-academic placement.