Electrolytic cells and methods for the production of ammonia and hydrogen

摘要

A method using an electrolytic cell to electrolyze urea to produce at least one of H2 and NH3 is described. An electrolytic cell having a cathode with a first conducting component, an anode with a second conducting component, urea and an alkaline electrolyte composition in electrical communication with the anode and the cathode is used to electrolyze urea. The alkaline electrolyte composition has a hydroxide concentration of at least 0.01 M.

主权项

1. A method for producing NH3, comprising
applying a voltage difference across a cathode and an anode of an electrolytic cell, said electrolytic cell having:
urea in an amount effective to provide NH3 at an applied voltage,the cathode comprising a first conducting component,the anode comprising a second conducting component selected from the group consisting of cobalt, copper, iron, nickel, platinum, iridium, ruthenium, rhodium, and mixtures thereof and alloys thereof, andan alkaline electrolyte composition in electrical communication with the anode and the cathode, where the alkaline electrolyte composition has a hydroxide concentration of at least about 0.01 M, wherein the voltage difference applied across the cathode and the anode is sufficient to produce NH3, and recovering at least a portion of the produced NH3.