The EBIO project has published a new study that presents significant findings on the electrochemical decarboxylation of acetic acid using boron-doped diamond and platinum-modified electrodes to treat pyrolysis oil. According to the study, BBD electrodes facilitate decarboxylation without competitive OER, forming methanol and methyl acetate. Moreover, the performance of the process is not significantly affected by the applied current density, concentration, and pH of the solution, particularly at current densities exceeding 50 mA/cm2.
On the other hand, the study showed that the ethane-selectivity of platinum-modified BDD electrodes heavily relies on the particles’ shape and geometry. Specifically, 3D porous nanoparticles have high selectivity towards OER, whereas nano-thorn Pt particles have a faradaic efficiency of 40%. Thin platinum layers on BDD have a high faradaic efficiency towards ethane of >70%. The research provides crucial guidelines for electrode fabrication, particularly for the electrochemical upgrading of biomass feedstocks through acid decarboxylation. The process involves various techniques such as (non) Kolbe electrolysis, electrodeposition, insitu electrochemical mass spectrometry and Raman spectroscopy. The study’s findings have significant implications for the treatment of pyrolysis-oil, a low-value biogenic liquid that requires harsh conditions for processing.
The full paper can be downloaded here.