Co-generation of high purity hydrogen and halide gases by electrolysis

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023323550-A1
Application number	US-202118023070-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 2, 2021
Priority date	Sep 2, 2020
Publication date	Oct 12, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

Described herein are proton exchange membrane style electrolyzers, and methods of making same, with a polybenzimidazole (PBI) or sulfonated polybenzimidazole (s-PBI) membrane and metal catalysts on the anode and cathode, which enables both acid independent membrane resistance and lower membrane resistance with higher operating temperatures.

First claim

1 . A proton exchange membrane style electrolyzer comprising:
a membrane, wherein the membrane comprises a polybenzimidazole membrane or a sulfonated polybenzimidazole membrane, the membrane exhibiting an acid independent membrane resistance of substantially 0.05 ohm-cm 2 ; an anode on a first side of the membrane, the anode comprising a first metal catalyst, the first metal catalyst comprising ruthenium and iridium; and a cathode on a second side of the membrane, the cathode comprising a second metal catalyst, the second metal catalyst comprising platinum.

2 . The proton exchange membrane style electrolyzer of claim 1 , wherein the membrane remains conductive in substantially dry conditions.

3 . The proton exchange membrane style electrolyzer of claim 2 , wherein the proton exchange membrane style electrolyzer is configured to operates in substantially dry conditions.

4 . The proton exchange membrane style electrolyzer of claim 2 , wherein the proton exchange membrane style electrolyzer is configured to produces at least one anhydrous product gas stream.

5 . The proton exchange membrane style electrolyzer of claim 1 , further comprising a first gas feed configured to supply an anhydrous gas to the anode.

6 . The proton exchange membrane style electrolyzer of claim 1 , further comprising gas feed configured to supply an inert gas, air, or oxygen to the cathode.

7 . The proton exchange membrane style electrolyzer of claim 1 , wherein the cathode comprises a capped inlet.

8 - 9 . (canceled)

10 . The proton exchange membrane style electrolyzer of claim 1 , wherein the cathode is configured to deliver water and hydrogen produced at the cathode.

11 . A method for forming a proton exchange membrane style electrolyzer comprising
locating a membrane between an anode and a cathode, the membrane comprising a polybenzimidazole membrane or sulfonated polybenzimidazole membrane, the membrane exhibiting an acid independent membrane resistance of substantially 0.05 ohm-cm 2 , wherein the anode comprises a first metal catalyst, the first metal catalyst comprising ruthenium and iridium, and the cathode comprises a second metal catalyst, the second metal catalyst comprising platinum.

12 - 19 . (canceled)

20 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising forming the polybenzimidazole membrane via a synthesis route as shown below:

21 . A method for electrolyzing a hydrogen halide gas comprising:
feeding the hydrogen halide gas to an anode side of an electrolyzer, the anode comprising a first metal catalyst, the first metal catalyst comprising ruthenium and iridium; collecting a product halide gas from the anode side of the electrolyzer; and collecting a product hydrogen gas from a cathode side of the electrolyzer, the cathode comprising a second metal catalyst, the second metal catalyst comprising platinum; wherein the electrolyzer comprises a membrane between the anode and the cathode, the membrane comprising a polybenzimidazole membrane or a sulfonated polybenzimidazole membrane, the membrane exhibiting an acid independent membrane resistance of substantially 0.05 ohm-cm 2 .

22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the method is carried out in substantially dry conditions.

23 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the hydrogen halide gas comprises hydrogen chloride.

24 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the hydrogen halide gas comprises hydrogen bromide.

25 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising feeding an inert gas, air, or oxygen to the cathode.

26 . The method of claim 25 , wherein air or oxygen is fed to the cathode, the method further comprising collecting water produced at the cathode.

27 . The proton exchange membrane style electrolyzer of claim 1 , wherein the first metal catalyst comprises RuO 2 .

28 . The proton exchange membrane style electrolyzer of claim 1 , wherein the first metal catalyst comprises IrRuO 2 .

29 . The proton exchange membrane style electrolyzer of claim 1 , the membrane comprising sulfuric acid.

30 . The proton exchange membrane style electrolyzer of claim 1 , the membrane comprising phosphoric acid.

Assignees

• Univ South Carolina

Inventors

• Meekins Benjamin
• Shimpalee Sirivatch
• Murdock Laura A
• Likit-Anurak Kris
• Benicewicz Brian C

Classifications

• C25B13/08 Primary

  based on organic materials · CPC title

• C25B1/26

  Chlorine; Compounds thereof (by simultaneous production of alkali metal hydroxides and chlorine, oxyacids or salts of chlorine C25B1/34) · CPC title

• C25B1/24

  Halogens or compounds thereof · CPC title

• C25B1/02 Primary

  Hydrogen or oxygen · CPC title

• C25B9/19

  with diaphragms · CPC title