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US4341608A
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Hydrogen production by biomass product depolarized water electrolysis
Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
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Filing: 1981-02-17
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Granted: 1982-07-27
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Expires: 2001-02-17
Abstract
Abstract A process for hydrogen production by water electrolysis and a process of depolarizing the anode of a water electrolysis cell by oxidizing a biomass product which may be monosaccharides, lignins, and mixtures thereof. The process of this invention avoids molecular oxygen evolution and results in high purity hydrogen at cell potentials substantially less than required for normal water electrolysis involving oxygen evolution. The process utilizes biomass products which are readily available and cost effective.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael R. St. John
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 18:30
CPC Classifications
C; C25; C25B; C25B1/00; C25B1/01; C25B1/02; C25B1/04; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/30; Y02E60/36
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 46
Claim 1
Independent Claim
89 words
A process for hydrogen production by biomass product depolarized water electrolysis comprising: maintaining an electrical potential across a metallic anode in an anode zone and a metallic cathode in a cathode zone of an electrolytic cell; oxidizing, in an aqueous electrolyte in said electrolytic cell anode zone, oxidizable biomass product selected from the group consisting of monosaccharides, lignins and mixtures thereof with water producing oxidized biomass product, hydrogen ions and electrons; transporting said hydrogen ions through said electrolyte to said cathode zone; forming molecular hydrogen in said cathode zone.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
89 words
A process for hydrogen production by biomass product depolarized water electrolysis comprising: maintaining an electrical potential across a metallic anode in an anode zone and a metallic cathode in a cathode zone of an electrolytic cell; oxidizing, in an aqueous electrolyte in said electrolytic cell anode zone, oxidizable biomass product selected from the group consisting of monosaccharides, lignins and mixtures thereof with water producing oxidized biomass product, hydrogen ions and electrons; transporting said hydrogen ions through said electrolyte to said cathode zone; forming molecular hydrogen in said cathode zone.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said electrical potential is less than about 1.5 volts.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 2 wherein said electrical potential is about 0.5 to about 1.0 volts.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 2 wherein said biomass product comprises monosaccharide.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
10 words
The process of claim 4 wherein said monosaccharide comprises glucose.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 4 wherein said monosaccharide has a concentration of about 0.1 to about 2.0 Molar in said aqueous electrolyte.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 6 wherein said monosaccharide concentration is about 0.8 to about 1.2 Molar.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 2 wherein said electrolyte comprises an aqueous acid of about 0.1 to about 10 Molar concentration.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process of claim 8 wherein said acid is selected from the group consisting of hydrochloric, sulfuric, perchloric and phosphoric and said concentration is about 0.5 to about 1.5 Molar.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 8 wherein said biomass product comprises monosaccharide in a concentration of about 0.1 to about 2.0 Molar in said aqueous acid electrolyte.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 2 wherein said electrolytic cell is maintained at temperatures of about 65° to about 90° C.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 2 wherein said biomass product comprises lignin.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 12 wherein said lignin has a concentration of about 10 to about 300 grams/liter in said aqueous electrolyte.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 13 wherein said lignin concentration is about 100 to about 150 grams/liter.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 12 wherein said electrolyte comprises an aqueous base of about 0.1 to about 6 Molar concentration.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process of claim 15 wherein said base is selected from the group consisting of sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide and said concentration is about 0.5 to about 1.0 Molar.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 15 wherein said biomass product comprises lignin in a concentration of about 10 to about 300 grams/liter in said aqueous base electrolyte.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 12 wherein said electrolyte comprises an aqueous acid of about 0.1 to about 10 Molar concentration.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process of claim 18 wherein said acid is selected from the group consisting of hydrochloric, sulfuric, perchloric and phosphoric and said concentration is about 0.5 to about 1.5 Molar.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
66 words
A process of depolarizing the anode of a water electrolysis cell having an electrical potential across a metallic anode in an anode zone and a metallic cathode in a cathode zone comprising: oxidizing in said anode zone oxidizable biomass product selected from the group consisting of monosaccharides, lignins and mixtures thereof with water producing oxidized biomass product, hydrogen ions and electrons, thereby avoiding molecular oxygen evolution.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
66 words
A process of depolarizing the anode of a water electrolysis cell having an electrical potential across a metallic anode in an anode zone and a metallic cathode in a cathode zone comprising: oxidizing in said anode zone oxidizable biomass product selected from the group consisting of monosaccharides, lignins and mixtures thereof with water producing oxidized biomass product, hydrogen ions and electrons, thereby avoiding molecular oxygen evolution.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 20 wherein said electrical potential is less than about 1.5 volts.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 21 wherein said electrical potential is about 0.5 to about 1.0 volts.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 18 wherein said biomass product comprises monosaccharide.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
10 words
The process of claim 23 wherein said monosaccharide comprises glucose.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 23 wherein said monosaccharide has a concentration of about 0.1 to about 2.0 Molar in said aqueous electrolyte.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 25 wherein said monosaccharide concentration is about 0.8 to about 1.2 Molar.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 21 wherein said electrolyte comprises an aqueous acid of about 0.1 to about 10 Molar concentration.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process of claim 27 wherein said acid is selected from the group consisting of hydrochloric, sulfuric, perchloric and phosphoric and said concentration is about 0.5 to about 1.5 Molar.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 27 wherein said biomass product comprises monosaccharide in a concentration of about 0.1 to about 2.0 Molar in said aqueous acid electrolyte.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 21 wherein said electrolytic cell is maintained at temperatures about 65° to about 90° C.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 21 wherein said biomass product comprises lignin.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 31 wherein said lignin has a concentration of about 10 to about 300 grams/liter in said aqueous electrolyte.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 32 wherein said lignin has a concentration of about 100 to about 150 grams/liter in said aqueous electrolyte.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 21 wherein said electrolyte comprises an aqueous base of about 0.1 to about 6 Molar concentration.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process of claim 34 wherein said base is selected from the group consisting of sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide and said concentration is about 0.5 to about 1.0 Molar.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 34 wherein said biomass product comprises lignin in a concentration of about 10 to about 300 grams/liter in said aqueous base electrolyte.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 21 wherein said electrolyte comprises an aqueous acid of about 0.1 to about 10 Molar concentration.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process of claim 37 wherein said acid is selected from the group consisting of hydrochloric, sulfuric, perchloric and phosphoric and said concentration is about 0.5 to about 1.5 Molar.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said hydrogen ions are transported through a hydrogen ion passing separator separating said anode zone from said cathode zone.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said metallic cathode is selected from the group consisting of platinized platinum, platinum-tungsten, platinum tantalum, and Raney alloys.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said metallic anode is selected from the group consisting of platinized platinum, platinum-tungsten, platinum tantalum, and Raney alloys.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 20 wherein said hydrogen ions are transported through a hydrogen ion passing separator separating said anode zone from said cathode zone.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 20 wherein said metallic cathode is selected from the group consisting of platinized platinum, platinum-tungsten, platinum tantalum, and Raney alloys.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 20 wherein said metallic anode is selected from the group consisting of platinized platinum, platinum-tungsten, platinum tantalum, and Raney alloys.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-07-26 | 1986-01-25 | 1986-07-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-07-26 | 1990-01-25 | 1990-07-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-07-26 | 1994-01-25 | 1994-07-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |