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J. Renewable Sustainable Energy 1, 033112 (2009); doi:10.1063/1.3156006 (11 pages)

Electrolysis of glycerol in subcritical water

Asli Yuksel 1,
Hiromichi Koga 1,
Mitsuru Sasaki 1,
and Motonobu Goto 2

1 Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kumamoto University, 2-39-1 Kurokami, Kumamoto 860-8555, Japan Map This map
2 Bioelectrics Research Center, Kumamoto University, 2-39-1 Kurokami, Kumamoto 860-8555, Japan Map This map

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Recently, there has been a rising interest for the disposal of biorelated components that cannot be treated easily by biological processes. Because of the development of biodiesel production, the production of by-products such as crude glycerol has increased dramatically. Presently, in many biodiesel plants with low capacity, the aqueous phase containing produced/left glycerol, which is an important molecule in the context of renewable biomass resources to provide hydrogen energy and chemical intermediates, methanol and salts as by-products, is discharged as wastewater. In this manner, both environmental pollution and economical losses are created. Therefore, we developed a new hydrothermal electrolysis system, by which these organics can be converted into value added chemicals, under high-temperature and high-pressure aqueous conditions. In this study, hydrothermal electrolysis reactions of glycerol with an alkali were investigated systematically to determine the intermediate products and current efficiency. We next studied the effects of electricity loading on the molecular transformation of glycerol through the comparison of the product distribution obtained by hydrothermal electrolysis with that by hydrothermal degradation under alkaline conditions. As a gaseous product, hydrogen gas was generated, whereas lactic acid was produced as the main liquid product. The yield of lactic acid increased to 34.7% at 280 °C with 50 mM NaOH after 90 min reaction time.

© 2009 American Institute of Physics

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We thank Dr. Masaru Watanabe who helped us during difficult times and supported us to go ahead with our research.

Article Outline

  1. INTRODUCTION
  2. EXPERIMENTAL
    1. Materials
    2. Experimental apparatus and procedure
    3. Product analysis
  3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
    1. Conversion of glycerol
    2. Effect of current on the conversion and yield of products
    3. Effect of alkali concentration on the conversion and yield of products
  4. CONCLUSIONS

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KEYWORDS and PACS

Keywords

biofuel, electrolysis, hydrogen economy, wastewater treatment

PACS

ARTICLE DATA

History
Received 29 September 2008
Accepted 29 May 2009
Published 30 June 2009
Permalink
http://link.aip.org/link/JRSEBH/v1/i3/p033112/s1

PUBLICATION DATA

ISSN:

19417012 (print)  
19417012 (online)

Publisher:

$abstract.society.value is a Member of CrossRef American Institute of Physics

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Figures (8) Tables (1)

Figures (click on thumbnails to view enlargements)

FIG. 1
Production of glycerol by the esterification process.
FIG. 1 View Enlargement | Download High Resolution Image (.zip file)
FIG. 2
Hydrothermal electrolysis apparatus.
FIG. 2 View Enlargement | Download High Resolution Image (.zip file)
FIG. 3
Typical pressure and temperature profiles for hydrothermal electrolysis at 280 °C with an initial pressure of 3 MPa.
FIG. 3 View Enlargement | Download High Resolution Image (.zip file)
FIG. 4
Typical HPLC chromatograms of organic acids obtained by hydrothermal electrolysis of glycerol with 50 mM NaOH, at 280 °C, applied current of 1 A, and electrolysis time of 15 min.
FIG. 4 View Enlargement | Download High Resolution Image (.zip file)
FIG. 5
Effect of current on the conversion and yield of products at 280 °C with 50 mM NaOH concentration: (a) 0, (b) 1, and (c) 2 A (symbols:  ∗—L-lactic acid; ◻—D-lactic acid; △—formic acid; ○—glycolic acid; ◇—glyceraldehyde; and ◆—conversion of glycerol).
FIG. 5 View Enlargement | Download High Resolution Image (.zip file)
FIG. 6
Effect of NaOH concentration on the conversion and yield of products at 280 °C and 1 A applied current: (a) 50 and (b) 10 mM (symbols:  ∗—L-lactic acid; ◻—D-lactic acid; △—formic acid; ○—glycolic acid; ◇—glyceraldehyde; and ◆—conversion of glycerol).
FIG. 6 View Enlargement | Download High Resolution Image (.zip file)
FIG. 7
Optimum results for the production of lactic acid (D+L) by hydrothermal electrolysis of glycerol at 280 °C with 50 mM NaOH concentration (symbols: △—0; ◻—1; and ○—2 A).
FIG. 7 View Enlargement | Download High Resolution Image (.zip file)
FIG. 8
Reaction pathway of the glycerol decomposition by hydrothermal electrolysis under alkaline conditions.
FIG. 8 View Enlargement | Download High Resolution Image (.zip file)

Tables

Table I. Experimental conditions.

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