Grantee Research Project Results
Final Report: Micro Channel Electrochemical Production of Dimethyl Carbonate
EPA Contract Number: EPD14008Title: Micro Channel Electrochemical Production of Dimethyl Carbonate
Investigators: C. Kimble, Dr. Michael
Small Business: Reactive Innovations, LLC
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: I
Project Period: May 1, 2014 through May 1, 2015
Project Amount: $99,999
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase I (2014) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) , SBIR - Innovation in Manufacturing
Description:
Presently, there are no U.S. manufacturers for producing dimethyl carbonate (DMC), an environmentally benign solvent used in the manufacturing of numerous products. These products range from lithium ion batteries to the production of polycarbonates, lubricants, polyurethanes, cleaning and degreasing solvents, construction materials such as paints and adhesives, fuel additives and biodiesel production. Surprisingly, this strategically important solvent is produced almost exclusively in China and South Korea, which adds additional shipping costs and transportation delays to U.S. manufacturers.
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
Several university research groups in China have reported the electrochemical production of DMC via bubbling carbon dioxide gas in an ionic liquid electrolyte while applying upwards of 5 volts for 48 hours. Subsequently, methanol would be added, which would produce a low yield of dimethyl carbonate. Reactive Innovations examined this prior published work by using the recommended ionic liquids that include Bmim-Br and Bmim-Cl using platinum based electrodes. After calibrating a gas chromatograph for DMC detection, the company did not observe any DMC produced using these published methods. Variations of the methods were conducted that examined different molar ratios of ionic liquid to methanol, CO2 reduction voltages, time and different ionic liquids. In all cases, no DMC was produced.
Conclusions:
This Phase I program examined numerous ionic liquid, methanol and catalytic variations via applying a reductive potential over time to produce dimethyl carbonate using carbon dioxide and methanol feedstocks. Only via using a methyl-halide compound was Reactive Innovations able to produce DMC electrochemically. This compound is cost prohibitive. However, it does show that other reaction pathways are possible for electrochemical production of DMC using CO2 and methanol.
Supplemental Keywords:
green manufacturing, dimethyl carbonate, DMC, energy consumptionThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.