Electrochemical Synthesis of Cementitious Compounds

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022380909-A1
Application number	US-202017771197-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 28, 2020
Priority date	Oct 29, 2019
Publication date	Dec 1, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

In some aspects, the present disclosure pertains to methods for the electrochemical production of calcium silicate compounds in an electrochemical cell that comprises (a) a Ca-based electrode that comprises calcium metal or an inorganic calcium material, (b) an SiOx-based electrode that comprises a SiOx material, where x ranges from 1 to 2, and (c) a liquid electrolyte disposed between the Ca-based electrode and the SiOx-based electrode. In these methods, the electrochemical cell is operated under conditions such that calcium cations are produced at the Ca-based electrode and one or more calcium silicate (Ca—Si-oxide) compounds are produced at the SiOx-based electrode. In other aspects, the present disclosure pertains to systems for the electrochemical production of calcium silicate compounds.

First claim

We claim:

1 . A method for the electrochemical production of calcium silicate compounds in an electrochemical cell that comprises (a) a Ca-based electrode that comprises calcium metal or an inorganic calcium material, (b) an SiO x -based electrode that comprises a SiO x material, where x ranges from 1 to 2, and (c) a liquid electrolyte disposed between the Ca-based electrode and the SiO x -based electrode, wherein the electrochemical cell is operated under conditions such that calcium cations are produced at the Ca-based electrode and one or more calcium silicate (Ca—Si-oxide) compounds are produced at the SiO x -based electrode.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more calcium silicate compounds that are produced comprise one or more of Wollastonite (CaSiO 3 ), Rankanite (Ca 2 Si 3 O 7 ), Belite (Ca 2 SiO 4 ) and Alite (Ca 2 SiO 4 ).

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the Ca-based electrode comprises calcium metal and wherein operation of the electrochemical cell produces a usable electrical potential.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the inorganic calcium material comprises calcium oxide, wherein oxygen gas is produced at the Ca-based electrode in addition to the calcium cations, and wherein a source of electrical potential is supplied to drive the electrochemical cell.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the inorganic calcium material comprises calcium carbonate, wherein oxygen and carbon dioxide gases are produced at the Ca-based electrode in addition to the calcium cations, and wherein a source of electrical potential is supplied to drive the electrochemical cell.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the inorganic calcium material comprises calcium sulfate, wherein oxygen and sulfur dioxide gas is produced at the Ca-based electrode in addition to the calcium cations, and a source of electrical potential is supplied to drive the electrochemical cell.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein oxygen is introduced at the SiO x -based electrode to reduce or prevent the formation of silicon at the SiO x -based electrode.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the electrolyte comprises a solution of one or more calcium salts in an organic solvent, in an aqueous solution, or in a solid electrolyte melt.

9 . A system for the electrochemical production of calcium silicate compounds, wherein the system comprises an electrochemical cell that comprises (a) a Ca-based electrode that comprises calcium metal or an inorganic calcium material, (b) an SiO x -based electrode that comprises a SiO x material, where x ranges from 1 to 2, and (c) a liquid electrolyte disposed between the Ca-based electrode and the SiO x -based electrode, and wherein the system is configured to operate the electrochemical cell under conditions such that calcium cations are produced at the Ca-based electrode and one or more calcium silicate compounds are produced at the SiO x -based electrode.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the Ca-based electrode, the SiO x -based electrode, and the electrolyte are placed inside a closed cell.

11 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the Ca-based electrode and the SiO x -based electrodes are dipped into the liquid electrolyte.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the Ca-based electrode comprises an inorganic calcium material selected from calcium oxide, calcium carbonate, and calcium sulfate dihydrate.

13 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the Ca-based electrode comprises calcium metal.

14 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the Ca-based electrode comprises a current collector in contact with a material comprising a mixture of the inorganic calcium material, a conductive material, and a binder.

15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the SiO x -based electrode is selected from SiO and SiO 2 .

16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the SiO x -based electrode comprises a current collector in contact with an SiO x -containing material comprising a mixture of the SiO x material, a conductive material, and a binder.

17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the SiO x -based electrode comprises a mesh current collector disposed between and in contact with first and second layers of the SiO x -containing material, and an oxygen-gas-permeable membrane disposed on an outer surface of the first layer, wherein the oxygen-gas-permeable membrane is configured to be exposed to O 2 gas during operation of the electrochemical cell, and wherein an outer surface of the second layer is placed in contact with the liquid electrolyte.

18 . The system of claim 17 , further comprising an ionically conductive separator positioned between the Ca-based electrode and the SiO x -based electrode.

19 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the electrolyte comprises a solution of one or more calcium salts in an organic solvent, in an aqueous solution or in a solid electrolyte melt.

20 . The system of claim 12 further comprising a voltage source for supplying energy to operate the electrochemical cell.

21 . The system of claim 19 , further comprising a voltage source for supplying energy to operate the electrochemical cell.

Assignees

• Univ Carnegie Mellon

Inventors

• Houchins Gregory
• Viswanathan Venkatasubramanian

Classifications

• Y02P40/18

  Carbon capture and storage [CCS] · CPC title

• C25B1/01

  Products · CPC title

• C25B11/042

  Electrodes formed of a single material · CPC title

• C25B9/19

  with diaphragms · CPC title

• C25B5/00

  Electrogenerative processes, i.e. processes for producing compounds in which electricity is generated simultaneously · CPC title