CO gas production by molten salt electrolysis from CO2 gas

Abstract

CO2 gas is decomposed to CO and C by the molten salt electrolysis using CaCl2-CaO and solid state electrolyte, zirconia, as the anode. Partially CO2 gas dissolves to form CO32- and it is electrochemically decomposed to carbon. The other portion of CO2 gas bubbles reacts with metallic Caelectrochemically deposited near the cathode, and forms C or CO gas. By increasing the flow rate of CO2 gas to the reactor, a high concentration of CO gas is generated. By increasing the concentration of CO2 gas in the initial gas, a large amount of CO gas was produced in the exhaust gas, and its rate approached to 3.32×10-8 m3/s in our experimental setup. These experimental evidences reflect the electrochemical decomposition of CO3 2- in the molten salt.