PhD candidate Talal Ashraf attended the 1st National Symposium on Electrochemical Conversion (ECCNS2024) in The Hague, The Netherlands, on 21st May 2024. This event brought together leading researchers and experts in the field of electrochemistry to discuss the latest advancements and challenges in electrochemical conversion technologies.
During the symposium, Talal presented his EBIO research through an oral presentation titled: “Electrooxidation of Carboxylic Acids on Boron Doped Electrodes for Pyrolysis Oil Upgradation Application.”
About the presentation:
Carboxylic acids such as formic, acetic, and propionic acids are commonly found in bio-based pyrolysis oil, posing significant challenges related to storage, stability, and corrosion. Electrochemical decarboxylation provides a promising method to remove these acids under mild reaction conditions and can be seamlessly integrated with renewable energy sources. In my presentation, I discussed our latest data on the hydroxyl radical-mediated electrooxidation of carboxylic acids on boron-doped diamond electrodes. Key aspects of the study included the reaction mechanism and the effect of various process conditions—such as current density, pH value and concentration and acids mixture complexity on reaction performance. The reaction outcomes were noteworthy, with methanol, ethanol, ethylene, methyl acetate, and ethyl propionate being produced at the anode, along with hydrogen evolution as the counter-reaction at the cathode. This hydrogen is conventionally produced from fossil fuels at high temperatures and pressure, making our method a more sustainable alternative. Our optimization efforts resulted in high Faradaic efficiencies. However, increasing the complexity of the electrolytic acid mixture led to a more diverse product selectivity, yielding mixtures of alcohols (methanol, ethanol) and alkenes (ethylene). These findings underscore the potential of electrochemical decarboxylation as a sustainable route for bio-based fuel production, even from complex mixtures. Furthermore, our research delves into the underlying reaction mechanisms, offering a comprehensive understanding of the process.