Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB
Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB

Electrosynthesis of basic chemicals

Expand all Close all

Challenges

Utilization of electric energy for the production of basic chemicals is gaining increasing economic relevance. The electrosynthesis of essential chemical products can solve two current challenges:

Chemical storage of volatile renewable energy

First, the ongoing energy transition leads to a massive expansion of renewable energy and therefore to an increasing but fluctuating supply of electric energy, which requires new storage and utilization concepts. In periods of low demand for electricity, the excess supply of electrical energy can be alternatively used for the production of value.

Chemicals from electricity replace fossil raw materials

Second, many industrial processes depend on basic chemicals that are currently produced from fossil and mainly imported resources, entailing substantial costs and effort for purchasing, transport and storage.

Solution approach and concept

© Fraunhofer IGB
Electrochemical cell for CO2 reduction.

To tackle these challenges, Fraunhofer IGB develops electrochemical processes for the decentralized on-site synthesis of basic chemicals.

Decentralized production of value chemicals from CO2 and air

Particularly promising is the production of carbon-based chemicals from water (H2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2), which is in this case not emitted as climate-damaging exhaust gas but be used as a raw material. In addition, electrosynthesis processes can also be used on a smaller scale for the decentral production of locally required basic chemicals. This makes consumers, such as hospitals, independent of suppliers and possible delivery bottlenecks. An important application in this case is for example the production of hydrogen peroxide from air/oxygen (O2) and water.

Electrochemical reduction of the gaseous educts on a gas diffusion electrode

Both the generation of carbon-based basic chemicals and the production of hydrogen peroxide are based on the same concept: The gaseous educts (CO2 or oxygen) are electrochemically reduced at a gas diffusion electrode (GDE) and react with water to form the desired, higher-value product. In order to further improve the CO2 balance, these electrosynthesis units can each be operated with electricity from renewable sources.

Schematic representation of the electrosynthesis of platform chemicals from CO2 and water
© Fraunhofer IGB
Schematic representation of the electrosynthesis of platform chemicals from CO2 and water. Products of CO2 reduction at the cathode leave the electrolysis cell via the outgoing gas fl ow or the catholyte.

Electrochemical processes and applications

Synthesis of carbon-based platform chemicals from CO2 and water

  • Electrosynthesis of formic acid (formate)
  • Production of high-value chemicals (e.g. bifunctional carbonic acids as polymer building blocks) via electro- / biocatalytic process cascades (e.g. electrosynthesis with subsequent C1 fermentation)
  • Electrosynthesis of ethylene
  • Production of value-added chemicals (e.g. ethylene oxide) via combination of electrocatalytic processes and heterogenously catalytized processes

 

R&D example: electrosynthesis of formate from CO2

One focus at the IGB is on the electrochemical CO2 conversion to carbon-based platform chemicals, such as formic acid (formate). Fraunhofer IGB has also extended this approach and combines the electrochemical production of formic acid with subsequent fermentative conversion of the generated C1 intermediate (formic acid) into value-added chemicals, thus linking Power-to-X processes to industrial biotechnology.

 

R&D example: electrosynthesis of ethylene from CO2

As part of the lighthouse project "Electricity as a Raw Material", Fraunhofer IGB has successfully demonstrated an electrosynthesis process for the direct production of ethylene from CO2 and water. For this purpose, an electrode with a surface area of 130 cm2 covered by a catalyst, which was developed and fabricated in-house, was used in a flow-through operation mode. By now, ethylene concentrations of 1700 ppm in the product gas were achieved with a Faraday efficiency of up to 8.5 percent. According to the current state of science and technology, comparable values are typically achieved on a laboratory scale, with electrode areas of only a few square centimeters.

The plant also allows the specific analysis of the products that are created in a gaseous or liquid form in each case. Further process parameters can be continuously adjusted and monitored in order to optimize the technology and process and to make statements about efficiency and long-term stability.

Decentralized production of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) on demand

  • Cathodic H2O2 production via reduction of oxygen (air) on gas diffusion electrodes
  • Anodic H2O2 production via water oxidation on boron-doped diamond electrodes

 

R&D example: electrosynthesis of hydrogen peroxide from air/oxygen

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is an essential component of disinfectants and, e.g., used as a bleaching agent. On a large scale, H2O2 is produced using the anthraquinone process and usually sold as a highly concentrated solution. This involves transport costs and safety precautions for the user. In addition, the dependence on suppliers for this critical component can lead to serious problems in form of delivery bottlenecks in times of crisis.

Therefore, especially for applications requiring recipes moderate hydrogen peroxide concentration (e. g. 3% and less), the on-site electrochemical production meeting these special requirements is a viable option. Consequently, the user is independent of possible delivery constraints and able to produce his own formulations flexibly.

With the electrolytic module developed by Fraunhofer IGB, essentially only air/oxygen, water and electricity are required for H2O2 production. In previous studies, we have already been able to achieve hydrogen peroxide concentrations of 3 g/L. The focus in current and upcoming projects is to further increase this concentration, to develop the process for further applications and their basic conditions (e.g. H2O2 production in different media) and to implement the process in fully automated prototypes meeting the specific requirements of the customer.

Electrosynthesis of value-added chemicals from biogenic precursors from biomass processing

Examples of relevant precursors:

  • 5-HMF
  • Lignin

Our service offers

© Fraunhofer IGB
Demonstrator with the circuits to the electrolyte (left) and gas supply (right).

The technical and scientific activities of Fraunhofer IGB range from the component development (gas diffusion electrodes, catalyst materials) and the process development to the design of electrochemical modules and demonstrators. The cells can be adapted to the customer's specific needs by choosing the appropriate electrodes.

Fully automated demonstrator for customer-specific tests

In addition, the IGB has designed and built a fully automatic demonstrator within the lighthouse project "Electricity as a Raw Material", with which reliable statements about upscaling, efficiency and long-term stability of the respective process under industrial operating condition can be made. This demonstrator is available for customer-specific tests.

Electrochemical and material-based evaluations of cells and electrodes

In addition to the development of the above-mentioned proprietary components, the IGB is also able to carry out electrochemical and material-based evaluations and tests on cell systems and electrodes developed by customers. A wide range of physical/chemical methods is available for this purpose.

Spectrum of services at a glance

  • Conceptual development, analysis and characterization of electrochemical synthesis processes
  • Development and optimization of electrocatalysts, electrodes, and electrolytic cells for a wide range of applications
  • Customer- and application-specific development of processes, technologies and prototypes
  • Modelling and simulation
  • Scale-up, design of processes and systems
  • Ecologic and economic evaluation

Equipment

  • Electrolytic flow cells with electrode areas between 10 cm2 and 130 cm2
  • Two mobile, automated demonstrator units for continuous operation
  • Chemical / physical laboratories and technical centers
  • Electrode characterization methods (REM, XRD, FTIR, etc.)
  • Chemical analytics (GC, HPLC, NMR)
  • SolidWorks® CAD software for the construction of modules and demonstrator units
  • COMSOL Multiphysics® simulation software for process modelling

Information materials

Fact sheet “Electrosynthesis of basic chemicals”

Download

Reference projects

 

© Fraunhofer IGB

January 2023 – December 2026

POWER2HYPE

Electrochemical synthesis of hydrogen peroxide from water, air and renewable electric energy

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is an environmentally friendly oxidant widely used in the chemical industry. However, the classic production method is expensive and not suitable for decentralized application on a small scale. For this reason, researchers at Fraunhofer IGB have been working on an alternative electrochemical process in the CO2EXIDE project. This is now being further developed and demonstrated in the EU-funded follow-up project POWER2HYPE together with partners from industry and research.

go to project

Fraunhofer lighthouse project “ShaPID”

Shaping the Future of Green Chemistry by Process Intensification and Digitalization

 

In ShaPID, Fraunhofer aims to demonstrate that sustainable, green chemistry can be achieved through practical technological innovations in process intensification and digitalization. To this end, new technology developments in four complementary areas are being driven forward in a targeted manner on the basis of the internationally recognized "12 Principles of Green Chemistry".

 

Duration: January 2021 – December 2023

go to project

CO2Exide – CO2-based eletrosynthesis of ethylene oxide

 

The goal of the project CO2EXIDE was the establishment of an electrochemical, energy efficient and near-to CO2-neutral process for the production of the bulk chemical ethylene from CO2, water and renewable energy. One of the central steps was the development of a new type of electrolyser that enables a simultaneous reaction on both anode and cathode, which is more efficient in terms of energy and resources.

 

Duration: January 2018 – December 2020

go to project

CELBICON –

Cost-effective CO2 conversion into chemicals via combination of Capture and ELectrochemical and BIochemical CONversion technologies

 

The aim of the CELBICON project is the development of new "CO2-to-chemicals" technologies. This goal is achieved by the combination of absorption of CO2 from the air, electrochemical CO2 conversion to C1 intermediates and a final fermentation of the intermediates to high-quality chemicals.

 

Duration: March 2016 – January 2020

go to project

Fraunhofer Lighthouse Project "Electricity as a raw material"

 

A new approach to use fluctuating excess electricity from renewable energies is to produce chemicals. This makes the electrochemical synthesis of chemicals not only economical, but also represents – in addition to store electricity – a sensible utilization path to compensate for electricity oversupply. In the Fraunhofer lighthouse project "Electricity as a raw material", Fraunhofer IGB is developing an electrochemical process for the production of ethene in just one process step.

 

Duration: August 2015 – September 2018

go to project

OxFloc – Integrated water treatment in a one-stage oxidative-adsorptive process to degrade and remove harmful substances

 

The OxFloc project is concerned with water treatment, aiming to degrade and remove hazardous substances in an integrated approach using a one-step oxidation-adsorptive process. This will not only reduce the operating costs of waste water treatment in the future, but also provide a substantial environmental benefit.

 

Duration: September 2013 – August 2015

go to project

Related Links: