US 12,442,091 B2
Electrochemical dehydrogenation, epoxidation, substitution, and halogenation of hydrocarbons and hydrocarbon derivatives
Marcel Schreier, Madison, WI (US); and Christine E. Lucky, Madison, WI (US)
Assigned to Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, Madison, WI (US)
Filed by Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, Madison, WI (US)
Filed on Jun. 14, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/334,847.
Application 18/334,847 is a division of application No. 17/545,805, filed on Dec. 8, 2021, granted, now 11,718,920.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/122,503, filed on Dec. 8, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0323544 A1, Oct. 12, 2023
Int. Cl. C25B 1/04 (2021.01); C07C 5/02 (2006.01); C07C 11/02 (2006.01); C07C 31/02 (2006.01); C25B 3/03 (2021.01); C25B 3/07 (2021.01); C25B 3/11 (2021.01); C25B 3/23 (2021.01); C25B 3/25 (2021.01); C25B 11/042 (2021.01); C25B 11/043 (2021.01)
CPC C25B 3/07 (2021.01) [C25B 3/03 (2021.01); C25B 3/23 (2021.01); C25B 3/25 (2021.01); C25B 11/042 (2021.01); C25B 11/043 (2021.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of making hydroxy-alkanes and alkenes, the method comprising:
in a reactor comprising an anode and a cathode separated by an ion exchange membrane, and containing a reactant comprising an alkane; and a solution comprising water and halogen ions, and
(a) applying a potential across the anode and the cathode such that halogen radicals are generated from the halogen ions at the anode, the halogen radicals reacting with the alkane to produce a halogenated intermediate as an anolyte, and hydroxyl ions are produced at the cathode as a catholyte; and
(b) combining the anolyte and the catholyte to yield a hydroxy-alkane and/or an alkene;
wherein the solution is substantially free of metal ions that undergo oxidation at the anode under the applied potential.