Prodn. of synthesis gas by redn of carbon di-oxide in an electrolytic reaction cell - providing a non-fossil feedstock route to methanol, etc.

摘要

Prodn. of synthesis gas, novel in that a reaction cell (42) having a cathode (422) and anode (423) arrangement with an oxygen -ion conducting solid -electrolyte (421) is provided to generate the carbon monoxide component of the synthesis gas, where a d.c. voltage is applied to the electrodes, and that the carbon monoxide is generated by reduction of carbon dioxide supplied to the cathode (422) of the heated reaction cell (42). USE/ADVANTAGE - Production of synthesis gas, and hence further products e.g. methanol. The feedstock can be from non -fossil fuel sources e.g. carbon dioxide from cement prodn. - which would otherwise be discharged to atmos. The system could form part of a regenerable fuel cycle involving methanol synthesis, combustion of the methanol as fuel, and recycling the carbon dioxide to the synthesis gas reaction cell (42).