摘要:
A method that produces coupled radical products from biomass. The method involves obtaining a lipid or carboxylic acid material from the biomass. This material may be a carboxylic acid, an ester of a carboxylic acid, a triglyceride of a carboxylic acid, or a metal salt of a carboxylic acid, or any other fatty acid derivative. This lipid material or carboxylic acid material is converted into an alkali metal salt. The alkali metal salt is then used in an anolyte as part of an electrolytic cell. The electrolytic cell may include an alkali ion conducting membrane (such as a NaSICON membrane). When the cell is operated, the alkali metal salt of the carboxylic acid decarboxylates and forms radicals. Such radicals are then bonded to other radicals, thereby producing a coupled radical product such as a hydrocarbon. The produced hydrocarbon may be, for example, saturated, unsaturated, branched, or unbranched, depending upon the starting material.
摘要:
A method that produces coupled radical products from biomass. The method involves obtaining a lipid or carboxylic acid material from the biomass. This material may be a carboxylic acid, an ester of a carboxylic acid, a triglyceride of a carboxylic acid, or a metal salt of a carboxylic acid, or any other fatty acid derivative. This lipid material or carboxylic acid material is converted into an alkali metal salt. The alkali metal salt is then used in an anolyte as part of an electrolytic cell. The electrolytic cell may include an alkali ion conducting membrane (such as a NaSICON membrane). When the cell is operated, the alkali metal salt of the carboxylic acid decarboxylates and forms radicals. Such radicals are then bonded to other radicals, thereby producing a coupled radical product such as a hydrocarbon. The produced hydrocarbon may be, for example, saturated, unsaturated, branched, or unbranched, depending upon the starting material.
摘要:
An apparatus for delivering a beneficial agent to a subterranean location is disclosed in one embodiment of the invention as including a water collection chamber having a substantially open end. A water-transporting membrane is provided to communicate with the water collection chamber. An extraction chamber receives water through the water-transporting membrane, expanding the extraction chamber. A dispensing chamber, containing a beneficial agent such as fertilizer, is configured to contract upon expanding the extraction chamber. This causes the dispensing chamber to expel the beneficial agent through a subterranean delivery channel, such as a rigid hollow spike. In certain embodiments, a rate adjustment mechanism may control the rate that water is received through the water-transporting membrane, thereby controlling the rate the beneficial agent is expelled from the subterranean delivery channel.
摘要:
An electrochemical cell having a cation-conductive ceramic membrane and an acidic anolyte. Generally, the cell includes a catholyte compartment and an anolyte compartment that are separated by a cation-conductive membrane. While the catholyte compartment houses a primary cathode, the anolyte compartment houses an anode and a secondary cathode. In some cases, a current is passed through the electrodes to cause the secondary cathode to evolve hydrogen gas. In other cases, a current is passed between the electrodes to cause the secondary cathode to evolve hydroxyl ions and hydrogen gas. In still other cases, hydrogen peroxide is channeled between the secondary cathode and the membrane to form hydroxyl ions. In yet other cases, the cell includes a diffusion membrane disposed between the secondary cathode and the anode. In each of the aforementioned cases, the cell functions to maintain the pH of a fluid contacting the membrane at an acceptably high level.
摘要:
A method that produces coupled radical products. The method involves obtaining a sodium salt of a carboxylic acid. The alkali metal salt is then used in an anolyte as part of an electrolytic cell. The electrolytic cell may include an alkali ion conducting membrane (such as a NaSICON membrane) that separates an anolyte compartment housing the anolyte from a catholyte compartment housing a catholyte. The anolyte includes a first solvent or mixture of solvents and a quantity of the sodium salt of the carboxylic acid. When the cell is operated, the alkali metal salt of the carboxylic acid decarboxylates and forms radicals. Such radicals are then bonded to other radicals, thereby producing a coupled radical product such as a hydrocarbon.
摘要:
Alkali bicarbonate is synthesized in an electrolytic cell from alkali carbonate. The electrolytic cell includes an alkali ion conductive membrane positioned between an anolyte compartment configured with an anode and a catholyte compartment configured with a cathode. The alkali conductive membrane selectively transports alkali ions and prevents the transport of anions produced in the catholyte compartment. An aqueous alkali carbonate solution is introduced into the anolyte compartment and electrolyzed at the anode to produce carbon dioxide and/or hydrogen ions which react with alkali carbonate to produce alkali bicarbonate. The alkali bicarbonate is recovered by filtration or other separation techniques. When the catholyte solution includes water, pure alkali hydroxide is produced. When the catholyte solution includes methanol, pure alkali methoxide is produced.
摘要:
An electrochemical method for the production of a chlorine-based oxidant product, such as sodium hypochlorite, is disclosed. The method may potentially be used to produce sodium hypochlorite from sea water or low purity un-softened or NaCl-based salt solutions. The method utilizes alkali cation-conductive ceramic membranes, such as membranes based on NaSICON-type materials, and organic polymer membranes in electrochemical cells to produce sodium hypochlorite. Generally, the electrochemical cell includes three compartments and the first compartment contains an anolyte having an acidic pH.
摘要:
Methods and apparatus for separating alkali metal ions from alkali salts of glycerine to thereby form clean glycerine. These methods are enabled by the use of alkali ion conductive membranes in electrolytic cells that are chemically stable in low pH conditions. The alkali ion conductive membrane preferably includes a chemically stable ionic-selective polymer membrane. A layered composite of a chemically stable ionic-selective polymer and a cation-conductive ceramic membrane is disclosed.
摘要:
Ammonia is synthesized using electrochemical and non-electrochemical reactions. The electrochemical reactions occur in an electrolytic cell having a lithium ion conductive membrane that divides the electrochemical cell into an anolyte compartment and a catholyte compartment. The catholyte compartment includes a porous cathode closely associated with the lithium ion conductive membrane. The overall electrochemical reaction is: 6LiOH+N2→Li3N (s)+3H2O+3/2O2. The nitrogen may be produced by a nitrogen generator. The non-electrochemical reaction involves reacting lithium nitride with water and/or steam as follows: Li3N (s)+3H2O→3LiOH+NH3 (g). The ammonia is vented and collected. The lithium hydroxide is preferably recycled and introduced into the anolyte compartment. The electrolytic cell is shut down prior to reacting the lithium nitride with water. The cathode is preferably dried prior to start up of the electrolytic cell and electrolyzing Li+ and N2 at the cathode.
摘要:
A method that produces coupled radical products from biomass. The method involves obtaining a lipid or carboxylic acid material from the biomass. This material may be a carboxylic acid, an ester of a carboxylic acid, a triglyceride of a carboxylic acid, or a metal salt of a carboxylic acid, or any other fatty acid derivative. This lipid material or carboxylic acid material is converted into an alkali metal salt. The alkali metal salt is then used in an anolyte as part of an electrolytic cell. The electrolytic cell may include an alkali ion conducting membrane (such as a NaSICON membrane). When the cell is operated, the alkali metal salt of the carboxylic acid decarboxylates and forms radicals. Such radicals are then bonded to other radicals, thereby producing a coupled radical product such as a hydrocarbon. The produced hydrocarbon may be, for example, saturated, unsaturated, branched, or unbranched, depending upon the starting material.