Novel electrochemical device for the direct conversion of carbon dioxide into oxalic acid

• Grant number: 24/08727-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: August 01, 2024
• End date: July 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Mechanical Engineering
• Agreement: BG E&P Brasil (Shell Group)
• Principal Investigator: Emílio Carlos Nelli Silva
• Grantee: Dawany Dionisio
• Host Institution: Escola Politécnica (EP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Company: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola Politécnica (EP)
• Associated research grant: 20/15230-5 - Research Centre for Greenhouse Gas Innovation - RCG2I, AP.PCPE

Abstract

The continuously increasing CO2 emissions to the atmosphere has been triggering serious urgent environmental outcomes, such as global warming. As a result, there is a growing interest in the strategies of capture, storage, and usage of CO2. In the latter case, the electroreduction of CO2 has received great attention, since this process can use renewable energy to produce high-added value substances from the industrial CO2 emissions. Hence, attaining a neutral or even negative carbon balance. Nowadays, most of the published research in this theme focuses on the fundamentals of electrocatalysts and reaction mechanisms, as well as on the development of new materials. However, to achieve a practical device it is also important to understand the feasibility of this technology as a means of fuels and chemicals production on a techno-economical basis. Previously, we developed an innovative electrochemical device to convert CO2 into oxalate ions. Now, we pretend to optimize this device and process, aiming for the direct production of oxalic acid, which unlocks the possibility of more negative carbon footprints with high market competition. (AU)