Methods and apparatuses for production of carbon, carbide electrodes, and carbon compositions

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018195181-A1
Application number	US-201815866660-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 10, 2018
Priority date	Oct 21, 2014
Publication date	Jul 12, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

Method comprising providing at least one solid carbide chemical compound and reducing a metal cation with use of the solid carbide chemical compound. A method comprising producing elemental carbon material from the oxidation of carbide in at least one carbide chemical compound (e.g., calcium carbide) in at least one anode of an electrochemical cell apparatus, such as a galvanic cell apparatus. The cathode can be a variety of metals such as zinc or tin. The reaction can be carried out at room temperature and normal pressure. An external voltage also can be applied, and different forms of carbon can be produced depending on the reactants used and voltage applied. For carrying out the method, an apparatus comprising at least one galvanic cell comprising: at least one anode comprising at least one carbide chemical compound, and at least one cathode. For carrying out the method and constructing the apparatus, an electrode structure comprising at least one carbide chemical compound, wherein the carbide chemical compound is a salt-like carbide; and at least one electronically conductive element different from the carbide. Carbon compositions of various forms are also prepared by the methods and apparatus and with use of the electrode structure. Large pieces of pure carbon can be produced. Post-reaction processing of the carbon can be carried out such as exfoliation.

First claim

1 .- 60 . (canceled)

61 . An apparatus comprising at least one electrochemical cell comprising:
at least one anode comprising at least one carbide chemical compound, and at least one cathode, wherein the electrochemical cell apparatus is a galvanic cell apparatus.

62 .- 63 . (canceled)

64 . The apparatus of claim 61 , wherein the carbide chemical compound is a salt-like carbide or an intermediate transition metal carbide.

65 . The apparatus of claim 61 , wherein the carbide chemical compound is a salt-like carbide.

66 . The apparatus of claim 61 , wherein the carbide chemical compound is calcium carbide or aluminum carbide.

67 . The apparatus of claim 61 , wherein the carbide chemical compound has sufficient electronic conductivity to function as an anode.

68 . The apparatus of claim 61 , wherein the carbide chemical compound has an electronic conductivity of at least 10-8 S/cm.

69 . The apparatus of claim 61 , wherein the carbide chemical compound is in the form of individual pieces or particles.

70 . The apparatus of claim 61 , wherein the carbide chemical compound is in the form of individual pieces or particles having a size of less than one cm.

71 . The apparatus of claim 61 , wherein the carbide chemical compound contacts at least one electrically conductive material.

72 . The apparatus of claim 61 , wherein the carbide chemical compound is held in an electrically conductive container.

73 . The apparatus of claim 61 , wherein the electrochemical cell apparatus anode is contacted with a solution comprising at least one organic solvent and at least one dissolved salt.

74 . The apparatus of claim 61 , wherein the electrochemical cell apparatus cathode is contacted with a solution comprising at least one organic solvent and at least one dissolved salt.

75 . The apparatus of claim 61 , wherein the electrochemical cell apparatus cathode is a metal cathode.

76 . The apparatus of claim 61 , wherein the electrochemical cell apparatus comprises at least one salt bridge or at least one ion exchange membrane.

77 . The apparatus of claim 61 , wherein the electrochemical cell apparatus comprises an external voltage source to regulate an oxidation reaction of carbide in the carbide chemical compound.

78 . The apparatus of claim 61 , wherein the apparatus further comprises at least one solution comprising at least one solvent and at least one dissolved salt, and the solution is free of dissolved carbide chemical compound.

79 . (canceled)

80 . An electrochemical cell apparatus according to claim 61 , wherein the anode is an anode electrode structure comprising at least one carbide chemical compound, wherein optionally the carbide chemical compound is a salt-like carbide; and at least one electronically conductive structural element different from the carbide chemical compound and contacting the at least one carbide chemical compound.

81 . An electrode structure comprising at least one carbide chemical compound, wherein the carbide chemical compound is a salt-like carbide; and at least one electronically conductive structural element different from the carbide chemical compound and contacting the at least one carbide chemical compound.

82 . The electrode structure of claim 81 , wherein the carbide chemical compound is methanide, acetylide, or sesquicarbide.

83 . The electrode structure of claim 81 , wherein the carbide chemical compound is calcium carbide, aluminum carbide, sodium carbide, magnesium carbide, lithium carbide, or beryllium carbide.

84 . The electrode structure of claim 81 , wherein the carbide chemical compound is calcium carbide or aluminum carbide.

85 . The electrode structure of claim 81 , wherein the carbide chemical compound has sufficient electronic conductivity to function as an anode.

86 . The electrode structure of claim 81 , wherein the carbide chemical compound has an electronic conductivity of at least 10-8 S/cm.

87 . The electrode structure of claim 81 , wherein the carbide chemical compound is in the form of individual pieces or particles.

88 . The electrode structure of claim 81 , wherein the carbide chemical compound is in the form of individual pieces or particles having a size of less than one cm.

89 . The electrode structure of claim 81 , wherein the carbide chemical compound is in the form of individual pieces or particles having a size of at least one micron.

90 . The electrode structure of claim 81 , wherein the carbide chemical compound is divided into separate portions which are each contacted with at least one electrically conductive structural element.

91 . The electrode structure of claim 81 , wherein the carbide chemical compound is at least about 95% pure.

92 . The electrode structure of claim 81 , wherein the electronically conductive structural element is a binder for the carbide chemical compound.

93 . The electrode structure of claim 81 , wherein the electronically conductive structural element is a container and the carbide chemical compound is held in the container.

94 . The electrode structure of claim 81 , wherein the electronically conductive structural element is a container and the carbide chemical compound is held in the container, and the container has openings which allow fluid to enter the container and contact the carbide chemical compound.

95 . The electrode structure of claim 81 , wherein the electronically conductive structural element is a metallic container and the carbide chemical compound is held in the metallic container.

96 . The electrode structure of claim 81 , wherein the electronically conductive structural element comprises at least one conductive rod.

97 . The electrode structure of claim 81 , wherein the electrode structure is adapted to be removably attached to an apparatus.

98 . The electrode structure of claim 81 , wherein the electronically conductive structural element of the electrode structure comprises at least one current collector.

99 . The electrode structure of claim 81 , wherein the electrode structure is adapted for use as an anode in an electrochemical cell apparatus for production of an elemental carbon material.

100 . The electrode structure of claim 81 , wherein the electrode structure is adapted for use as an anode in a galvanic cell apparatus for production of elemental carbon material.

101 .- 134 . (canceled)

135 . The electrode structure of claim 81 , wherein the electrode structure is adapted for use other than the production of elemental carbon material.

136 . The electrode structure of claim 81 , wherein the electrode structure is adapted for use in conversion of aldehyde or carboxylic acid, or reaction of ferric or ferrous ion.

137 . The electrode structure of claim 81 , wherein the electrode structure is adapted for use in acid mine drainage or in sewage treatment.

Assignees

• Univ West Virginia

Inventors

• Stiller Alfred H
• Yurchick Christopher L

Classifications

• H04W72/20

  Control channels or signalling for resource management · CPC title

• C01B32/25

  Diamond · CPC title

• C01B32/05

  Preparation or purification of carbon not covered by groups C01B32/15, C01B32/20, C01B32/25, C01B32/30 · CPC title

• C01B32/00

  Carbon; Compounds thereof (C01B21/00, C01B23/00 take precedence; percarbonates C01B15/10; carbon black C09C1/48) · CPC title

• C01P2002/82

  by IR- or Raman-data · CPC title