PROCESS FOR FORMING AND REGENERATING A COPPER CATHODE FOR AN ELECTROCHEMICAL CELL AND ELECTROCHEMICAL CELL FOR THE PRODUCTION OF INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS

• Main Authors: NIORETTINI, Alessandro, BIGNOZZI, Carlo Alberto, CARAMORI, Stefano, BERARDI, Serena
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 15.06.2022
• Subjects: APPARATUS THEREFOR; CHEMISTRY; ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTIONOF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS; METALLURGY

A process for forming and regenerating a copper cathode (1) for an electrochemical cell (10) for the production of industrial products, for example syngas, comprises an operating step of anodising a copper substrate (2) in a solution containing chlorides and sulphates at atmospheric pressure and ambient temperature, to which an alternating wave electric potential of 0 mV to 1500 mV is applied, at a frequency of 100 Hz to 1500 Hz, for at least 1 minute, so that copper salts form and are deposited on the substrate (2). The process further comprises an electrochemical reduction step in a non-acidic working solution for the formation of surface catalytic nanostructures (4) on the substrate (2). An electrochemical cell (10) for the production of industrial products is also part of the present patent application.