University of Birmingham Electrochemical conversion of CO2 and CH4 at subzero temperatures

By taking advantage of the high solubility of CO 2 and CH 4 at low temperature, we report the electrochemical conversion of these gases in aqueous media down to -40  C. The 5-fold increase in the concentration of CH 4 in gas hydrate slurries makes its electrochemical oxidation feasible at temperatures below the freezing point of water. We also report the electrochemical conversion of CO 2 at low temperatures and demonstrate, unexpectedly, that its reduction in these conditions follows an Anti-Arrhenius kinetics electrochemical environment. These findings open windows of investigations of electrocatalysis in brines below the freezing point of water.

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