A new study published in the Royal Society of Chemistry’s journal “Industrial Chemistry and Materials” explores the upscaling potential of electrochemical CO₂ reduction to formate, offering critical insights for the industrial deployment of Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) technologies.
Co-authored by Deepak Pant, a member of our Scientific Advisory Committee, and the VITO team, as well as the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), this research includes results from the EU-funded VIVALDI project, of which CO₂ Value Europe is a proud partner.
The study assesses the performance of multiple reactor designs, from 100 cm² to 400 cm², using Sn- and Bi-based gas diffusion electrodes (GDEs) for electrochemical CO₂ reduction (eCO₂RR). The findings underline the importance of reactor configuration, electrode material, and scale-up when transitioning from laboratory to pilot setups.
Key highlights include:
🔵 A 400 cm² Sn-GDE reactor demonstrated high stability and notable efficiency (35 mM h⁻¹ formate production rate, 73% coulombic efficiency).
🔵 Comparative analysis showed the importance of reactor architecture, with stacked systems showing reduced efficiency.
🔵 Despite not yet reaching kilowatt-level operation, the technology shows strong promise for industrial deployment.
This study highlights a promising sustainable route to produce valuable chemicals, which are up to now derived from fossil resources, contributing to the creation of circular and climate-resilient solutions for carbon reuse.
Read more here.
