Fig. 1: Schematic diagram for coupling alkaline CO2R electrolyzer with ERSS system.
From: Integrated system for electrolyte recovery, product separation, and CO2 capture in CO2 reduction
a A conventional continuous-flow alkaline CO2R electrolyzer. b The configuration and working mechanism of the ERSS system. The ERSS consisted of an HER cathode, an OER anode, and an ISM. The anode and cathode were separated by the ISM. The ISM comprised two CEMs separated by a porous carbon felt or polyethylene network. The porous carbon felt or polyethylene network was placed as a support layer in the ISM chamber, in close contact with CEMs on both sides, to minimize the overall ohmic losses of the ERSS. Through water electrolysis in the ERSS, the protons generated in the anolyte flowed through the CEM into the ISM, gradually acidifying the effluent electrolyte from the CO2R electrolyzer and producing water (H+ + OH− = H2O) and high-purity CO2 (CO32−(aq)/HCO3− (aq) → CO2 (g)). Meanwhile, cations such as K+ in the ISM chamber flowed through another CEM into the catholyte to balance the OH− ions generated HER, recovering a high-purity KOH solution. The liquid products from the alkaline CO2R electrolyzer can collected as an aqueous solution from the ISM chamber.
