Current and Emerging Electrochemical Approaches for Chemical Manufacturing

R&D on electrochemical approaches for chemical manufacturing is experiencing a renaissance, the direct result of society’s desire to reduce greenhouse gas emissions industry, aiming be carbon neutral by 2050. Two such processes have been performed decades at scale: chlor-alkali process that produces chlorine from aqueous sodium chloride, and production adiponitrile, an intermediate in nylon-6,6. Water electrolysis hydrogen also being deployed now scale. This report summarizes some many efforts electrify conversions, often using renewable feeds like water, CO2, biomass-derived adducts, or waste-streams other processes. Beyond emissions, very active research community pursues broad range electro-organic which major advantages over conventional reaction chemistries. Overarching challenges implementing are discussed (e.g., limited familiarity with engineering practice, insufficient availability electrical power, variability various feeds).