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Electrochemical Conversion of CO 2 to HCOOH at Tin Cathode: Development of a Theoretical Model and Comparison with Experimental Results
Author(s) -
Proietto Federica,
Galia Alessandro,
Scialdone Onofrio
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
chemelectrochem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.182
H-Index - 59
ISSN - 2196-0216
DOI - 10.1002/celc.201801067
Subject(s) - cathode , electrochemistry , formic acid , polarization (electrochemistry) , adsorption , anode , tin , chemistry , mass transfer , inorganic chemistry , langmuir adsorption model , redox , materials science , thermodynamics , chemical engineering , electrode , organic chemistry , chromatography , physics , engineering
The electrochemical reduction of pressurized carbon dioxide at tin cathode is considered a very promising process for the production of formic acid. Here, the process was studied in an undivided cell with the aim of developing a simple theoretical model. First, a large series of polarization and electrolyses was performed in order to evaluate the kinetic of the process. According to the literature, experimental results can be described by a simple reaction mechanism, which involves the following key stages: (i) mass transfer of CO 2 to the cathode; (i) its adsorption described by a Langmuir equation; (iii) the reduction of adsorbed CO 2 . A simple model was developed based on the cathodic conversion of pressurized CO 2 to HCOOH and on its anodic oxidation. The theoretical model was in a good agreement with experimental results collected in this work and in previous ones and well described the effect of several operative parameters, including current density, pressure and kind of reactor.