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Electrochemical biomass refining

Summary

Profile Type
  • Technology offer
POD Reference
TODE20250103010
Term of Validity
3 January 2025 - 3 January 2026
Company's Country
  • Germany
Type of partnership
  • Investment agreement
  • Research and development cooperation agreement
Targeted Countries
  • All countries
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General information

Short Summary
The invention of a German university allows non-destructive electrochemical conversion to organic compounds such as carbonyl compounds, but also alcohols, at high energy efficiency and current densities. Its aim is electrochemical biomass refining.The university offers interested companies the option of licensing and refining this technology in collaboration with the inventors.
Full Description
For many electrode materials, carbonyl compounds are electrochemically converted at high reaction rates only in very alkaline or very acidic electrolytes. But these reaction conditions also catalyze aldol condensation and other decomposition reactions in carbonyl compounds, resulting in low yields.

Researchers at a German university have now developed a method that avoids electrode decomposition. It involves placing the aldehyde in an organic, non-polar phase and the hydroxide (an essential reactant) in an aqueous electrolyte. This prevents chemical side reactions in the bulk phase. To perform the electrochemical reaction, a porous, metal-coated membrane is placed at the phase boundary between the two liquids as an electrode. At the three-phase boundary thus formed, the electrode has access to both reactants and can selectively convert the aldehydes into carboxylic acid in a non-destructive manner. For example, HMF from cellulose can be oxidated into FDCA instead of terephthalic acid, which normally comes from oil.

Experiments in the use of the three-phase electrode for butanal oxidation have been performed and analyzed.
The university offers interested companies the option of licensing and refining this technology in collaboration with the inventors.
This invention is primarily aimed at companies from the chemical industry, in particular companies involved in the refinement of electrochemical biomass and catalytic membranes.
Advantages and Innovations
Today, many materials are still produced from petrochemical basic materials. Climate change has made a shift to bio-based recyclable materials desirable. As refinement of biomass into important basic chemicals becomes more effective, interest in regenerable raw materials grows.

Further advantages are:
Good yields
Refinement of basic materials from biomass
Fewer secondary products
High current densities
Stage of Development
  • Lab tested
Sustainable Development Goals
  • Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
IPR status
  • IPR applied but not yet granted
IPR notes
A patent application has been submitted to the German Patent and Trade Mark Office. Within the priority year, other international applications can be submitted abroad.

Partner Sought

Expected Role of a Partner
The university offers interested companies the option of licensing and refining this technology in collaboration with the inventors.
This invention is primarily aimed at companies from the chemical industry, in particular companies involved in the refinement of electrochemical biomass and catalytic membranes.
Type and Size of Partner
  • SME 50 - 249
  • SME <=10
  • SME 11-49
  • Other
  • Big company
Type of partnership
  • Investment agreement
  • Research and development cooperation agreement

Dissemination

Technology keywords
  • 06006001 - Biobased Materials
  • 03004004 - Electrical Engineering/ Electrical Equipment
  • 05004001 - Filtration and Membrane Processes
Market keywords
  • 08001020 - Electronic chemicals
  • 08001008 - Membranes and membrane-based products
  • 06003009 - Biomass and Biofuels
Targeted countries
  • All countries