EXCLUSION OF CO AND CO2 FROM AMMONIA-SYNTHESIS GAS BY AN ELECTROCATALYTIC PROCESS

A new exclusion process for CO and CO2 from ammonia synthesis gas has been proposed: this takes place at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. The process is based on the electrochemical reduction of CO and CO2 to methanol proceeding at a mediated electrode via homogeneous catalysis. The maximum percentages of CO and CO2 excluded from the initial gas were about 1.5 and 4.1%, respectively, with a mediated electrode of 82.8 cm2 area in a reaction time of 5 h. The amount of excluded CO and CO2 was equivalent to the sum of moles of methanol formed and gases dissolved into the solution alone. The electroreduction of CO and CO2 was more efficient at three-phase (electrode/solution/gas) and at two-phase (electrode/solution) interfaces, respectively. © 1990 Chapman and Hall Ltd.