US4395316A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Hydrogen production by biomass product depolarized water electrolysis
Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
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Filing: 1982-04-19
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Granted: 1983-07-26
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Expires: 2002-04-19
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. High consumption of biomass product is achieved with an anode of lead-rich ruthenium polychlore compounds.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael R. St. John
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 16:46
CPC Classifications
C; C25; C25B; C25B1/00; C25B1/01; C25B1/02; C25B1/04; C25B9/00; C25B9/17; C25B9/19; C25B9/23; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/30; Y02E60/36
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 54
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
A process for hydrogen production by biomass product depolarized water electrolysis comprising: maintaining an electrical potential across an anode comprising metal selected from the group consisting of nickel and lead-rich ruthenium polychlore compounds having a formula Pb 2 [Ru 2-x Pb x ]0 7-y wherein x is greater than 0 and less than or equal to about 1.2 and y is greater than or equal to 0 and less than or equal to about 1.0 in a metallic 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
145 words
A process for hydrogen production by biomass product depolarized water electrolysis comprising: maintaining an electrical potential across an anode comprising metal selected from the group consisting of nickel and lead-rich ruthenium polychlore compounds having a formula Pb 2 [Ru 2-x Pb x ]0 7-y wherein x is greater than 0 and less than or equal to about 1.2 and y is greater than or equal to 0 and less than or equal to about 1.0 in a metallic 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
10 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said anode comprises nickel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said anode comprises Pb 2 [Ru 2-x Pb x ]0 7-y .
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 3 wherein said lead-rich ruthenium polychlore has an average formula Pb 2 [Ru 1 .82 Pb 0 .18 ]0 7-y .
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said electrical potential is less than about 1.5 volts.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 5 wherein said electrical potential is about 0.5 to about 1.0 volts.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said biomass product comprises monosaccharide.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
10 words
The process of claim 7 wherein said monosaccharide comprises glucose.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 7 wherein said monosaccharide has a concentration of about 0.1 to about 2.0 Molar in said aqueous electrolyte.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 9 wherein said monosaccharide concentration is about 0.8 to about 1.2 Molar.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said electrolyte comprises an aqueous acid of about 0.1 to about 10 Molar concentration.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process of claim 11 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 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 11 wherein said biomass product comprises monosaccharide in a concentration of about 0.1 to about 2.0 Molar in said aqueous acid electrolyte.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said electrolytic cell is maintained at temperatures above about 20° C.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 14 wherein said temperatures are about 60° to about 90° C.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said electrolytic cell is maintained at temperatures about 70° to about 90° C.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said biomass product comprises lignin.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 17 wherein said lignin has a concentration of about 10 to about 300 grams/liter in said aqueous electrolyte.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 18 wherein said lignin concentration is about 100 to about 150 grams/liter.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 17 wherein said electrolyte comprises an aqueous base of about 0.1 to about 6 Molar concentration.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process of claim 20 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 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 20 wherein said biomass product comprises lignin in a concentration of about 10 to about 300 grams/liter in said aqueous basic electrolyte.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 17 wherein said electrolyte comprises an aqueous acid of about 0.1 to about 10 Molar concentration.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process of claim 23 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 26
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 27
Dependent Claim
41 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said metallic cathode is selected from the group consisting of platinized platinum, platinum-tungsten, platinum tantalum, Raney alloys, nickel and lead-rich ruthenium polychlore compounds having a formula Pb 2 [Ru 2-x Pb x ]O 7-y .
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
120 words
A process of depolarizing the anode of a water electrolysis cell having an electrical potential across a metallic anode selected from the group consisting of nickel and lead-rich ruthenium polychlore compounds having a formula Pb 2 [Ru 2-x Pb x ]O 7-y wherein x is greater than 0 and less than or equal to about 1.2 and y is greater than or equal to 0 and less than or equal to about 1.0 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 29
Dependent Claim
120 words
A process of depolarizing the anode of a water electrolysis cell having an electrical potential across a metallic anode selected from the group consisting of nickel and lead-rich ruthenium polychlore compounds having a formula Pb 2 [Ru 2-x Pb x ]O 7-y wherein x is greater than 0 and less than or equal to about 1.2 and y is greater than or equal to 0 and less than or equal to about 1.0 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 30
Dependent Claim
10 words
The process of claim 27 wherein said anode comprises nickel.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 27 wherein said anode comprises Pb 2 [Ru 2-x Pb x ]O 7-y .
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 29 wherein said lead-rich ruthenium polychlore has an average formula Pb 2 [Ru 1 .82 Pb 0 .18 ]O 7-y .
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 27 wherein said electrical potential is less than about 1.5 volts.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 27 wherein said electrical potential is about 0.5 to about 1.0 volts.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 27 wherein said biomass product comprises monosaccharide.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
10 words
The process of claim 33 wherein said monosaccharide comprises glucose.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 33 wherein said monosaccharide has a concentration of about 0.1 to about 2.0 Molar in said aqueous electrolyte.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 35 wherein said monosaccharide concentration is about 0.8 to about 1.2 Molar.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 27 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
26 words
The process of claim 37 wherein said biomass product comprises monosaccharide in a concentration of about 0.1 to about 2.0 Molar in said aqueous acid electrolyte.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 27 wherein said electrolytic cell is maintained at temperatures above about 20° C.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
15 words
Thr process of claim 40 wherein said temperatures are about 60° to about 90° C.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 27 wherein said electrolytic cell is maintained at temperatures about 70° to about 90° C.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 27 wherein said biomass product comprises lignin.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 43 wherein said lignin has a concentration of about 10 to about 300 grams/liter in said aqueous electrolyte.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 44 wherein said lignin has a concentration of about 100 to about 150 grams/liter in said aqueous electrolyte.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 27 wherein said electrolyte comprises an aqueous base of about 0.1 to about 6 Molar concentration.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process of claim 46 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 50
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 46 wherein said biomass product comprises lignin in a concentration of about 10 to about 300 grams/liter in said aqueous basic electrolyte.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 27 wherein said electrolyte comprises an aqueous acid of about 0.1 to about 10 Molar concentration.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process of claim 49 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 53
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 27 wherein said hydrogen ions are transported through a hydrogen ion passing separator separating said anode zone from said cathode zone.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
41 words
The process of claim 27 wherein said metallic cathode is selected from the group consisting of platinized platinum, platinum-tungsten, platinum tantalum, Raney alloys, nickel and lead-rich ruthenium polychlore compounds having a formula Pb 2 [Ru 2-x Pb x ]O 7-y .
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) | 1986-07-25 | 1987-01-24 | 1987-07-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-07-25 | 1991-01-24 | 1991-07-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-07-25 | 1995-01-24 | 1995-07-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |