Patents Assigned to LIQUID LIGHT, INC.
  • Patent number: 9309599
    Abstract: Methods and systems for heterocycle catalyzed carbonylation and hydroformylation with carbon dioxide are disclosed. A method may include, but is not limited to, steps (A) to (D). Step (A) may introduce water to a first compartment of an electrochemical cell. The first compartment may include an anode. Step (B) may introduce carbon dioxide to a second compartment of the electrochemical cell. The second compartment may include a solution of an electrolyte, a heterocyclic catalyst, and a cathode. Step (C) may introduce a second reactant to the second compartment of the electrochemical cell. Step (D) may apply an electrical potential between the anode and the cathode in the electrochemical cell sufficient to induce liquid phase carbonylation or hydroformylation to form a product mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Liquid Light, Inc.
    Inventors: Narayanappa Sivasankar, Emily Barton Cole, Kyle Teamey
  • Patent number: 9303324
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes a system and method for producing a first product from a first region of an electrochemical cell having a cathode and a second product from a second region of the electrochemical cell having an anode. The method may include a step of contacting the first region with a catholyte comprising carbon dioxide. The method may include another step of contacting the second region with an anolyte comprising a sulfur-based reactant. Further, the method may include a step of applying an electrical potential between the anode and the cathode sufficient to produce a first product recoverable from the first region and a second product recoverable from the second region. An additional step of the method may include removing the second product and an unreacted sulfur-based reactant from the second region and recycling the unreacted sulfur-based reactant to the second region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Liquid Light, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerry J. Kaczur, Kyle Teamey
  • Patent number: 9267212
    Abstract: The present disclosure is a method and system for production of oxalic acid and oxalic acid reduction products. The production of oxalic acid and oxalic acid reduction products may include the electrochemical conversion of CO2 to oxalate and oxalic acid. The method and system for production of oxalic acid and oxalic acid reduction products may further include the acidification of oxalate to oxalic acid, the purification of oxalic acid and the hydrogenation of oxalic acid to produce oxalic acid reduction products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Liquid Light, Inc.
    Inventors: Zbigniew Twardowski, Emily Barton Cole, Jerry J. Kaczur, Kyle Teamey, Kate A. Keets, Rishi Parajuli, Alexander Bauer, Narayanappa Sivasankar, George Leonard, Theodore J. Kramer, Paul Majsztrik, Yizu Zhu
  • Patent number: 9222179
    Abstract: A method for purification of carbon dioxide from a mixture of gases is disclosed. The method generally includes steps (A) and (B). Step (A) may bubble the gases into a solution of an electrolyte and a catalyst in an electrochemical cell. The electrochemical cell may include an anode in a first cell compartment and a cathode in a second cell compartment. The cathode generally reduces the carbon dioxide into one or more compounds. The anode may oxidize at least one of the compounds into the carbon dioxide. Step (B) may separate the carbon dioxide from the solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Liquid Light, Inc.
    Inventors: Kyle Teamey, Emily Barton Cole, Narayanappa Sivasankar, Andrew B. Bocarsly
  • Patent number: 9175409
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for reducing carbon dioxide into a carbon based product. The system includes an electrochemical cell having a cathode region which includes a cathode and a non-aqueous catholyte; an anode region having an anode and an aqueous or gaseous anolyte; and an ion permeable zone disposed between the anode region and the cathode region. The ion permeable zone is at least one of (i) the interface between the anolyte and the catholyte, (ii) an ion selective membrane; (iii) at least one liquid layer formed of an emulsion or (iv) a hydrophobic or glass fiber separator. The system and method includes a source of energy, whereby applying the source of energy across the anode and cathode reduces the carbon dioxide and produces an oxidation product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Liquid Light, Inc.
    Inventors: Narayanappa Sivasankar, Jerry J. Kaczur, Emily Barton Cole
  • Patent number: 9175407
    Abstract: The present disclosure is a method and system for production of carboxylic based chemicals, including carboxylic acids and salts. A method for producing at oxalic acid may include receiving an anolyte feed at an anolyte region of an electrochemical cell including an anode and receiving a catholyte feed including carbon dioxide and an alkali metal hydroxide at a catholyte region of the electrochemical cell including a cathode. Method may include applying an electrical potential between the anode and cathode sufficient to reduce the carbon dioxide to at least one reduction product and converting the at least one reduction product and the alkali metal hydroxide to an alkali metal oxalate via a thermal reactor. The method may further include receiving the alkali metal oxalate at an electrochemical acidification electrolyzer and converting the alkali metal oxalate to oxalic acid at the electrochemical acidification electrolyzer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Liquid Light, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerry J. Kaczur, Kyle Teamey
  • Patent number: 9085827
    Abstract: The present disclosure is a method and system for production of carboxylic based chemicals, including carboxylic acids and salts. A method for producing at oxalic acid may include receiving an anolyte feed at an anolyte region of an electrochemical cell including an anode and receiving a catholyte feed including carbon dioxide and an alkali metal hydroxide at a catholyte region of the electrochemical cell including a cathode. Method may include applying an electrical potential between the anode and cathode sufficient to reduce the carbon dioxide to at least one reduction product and converting the at least one reduction product and the alkali metal hydroxide to an alkali metal oxalate via a thermal reactor. The method may further include receiving the alkali metal oxalate at an electrochemical acidification electrolyzer and converting the alkali metal oxalate to oxalic acid at the electrochemical acidification electrolyzer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Liquid Light, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerry J. Kaczur, Kyle Teamey
  • Patent number: 9080240
    Abstract: The present disclosure is a method and system for electrochemically co-producing a first product and a second product. The system may include a first electrochemical cell, a first reactor, a second electrochemical cell, at least one second reactor, and at least one third reactor. The method and system for for co-producing a first product and a second product may include co-producing a glycol and an alkene employing a recycled halide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Liquid Light, Inc.
    Inventors: Kyle Teamey, Jerry J. Kaczur, Emily Barton Cole
  • Patent number: 8961774
    Abstract: Methods and systems for electrochemical production of butanol are disclosed. A method may include, but is not limited to, steps (A) to (D). Step (A) may introduce water to a first compartment of an electrochemical cell. The first compartment may include an anode. Step (B) may introduce carbon dioxide to a second compartment of the electrochemical cell. The second compartment may include a solution of an electrolyte, a catalyst, and a cathode. Step (C) may apply an electrical potential between the anode and the cathode in the electrochemical cell sufficient for the cathode to reduce the carbon dioxide to a product mixture. Step (D) may separate butanol from the product mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Liquid Light, Inc.
    Inventors: Emily Barton Cole, Kyle Teamey, Andrew B. Bocarsly, Narayanappa Sivasankar
  • Patent number: 8858777
    Abstract: Methods and systems for electrochemical conversion of carbon dioxide to organic products including formate and formic acid are provided. A method may include, but is not limited to, steps (A) to (C). Step (A) may introduce an acidic anolyte to a first compartment of an electrochemical cell. The first compartment may include an anode. Step (B) may introduce a bicarbonate-based catholyte saturated with carbon dioxide to a second compartment of the electrochemical cell. The second compartment may include a high surface area cathode including indium and having a void volume of between about 30% to 98%. At least a portion of the bicarbonate-based catholyte is recycled. Step (C) may apply an electrical potential between the anode and the cathode sufficient to reduce the carbon dioxide to at least one of a single-carbon based product or a multi-carbon based product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Liquid Light, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerry J. Kaczur, Theodore J. Kramer, Kunttal Keyshar, Paul Majsztrik, Zbigniew Twardowski
  • Patent number: 8845875
    Abstract: The present disclosure is a system and method for producing a first product from a first region of an electrochemical cell having a cathode and a second product from a second region of the electrochemical cell having an anode. The method may include the step of contacting the first region of the electrochemical cell with a catholyte comprising an alcohol and carbon dioxide. Another step of the method may include contacting the second region of the electrochemical cell with an anolyte comprising the alcohol. Further, the method may include a step of applying an electrical potential between the anode and the cathode sufficient to produce a first product recoverable from the first region and a second product recoverable from the second region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Liquid Light, Inc.
    Inventors: Kyle Teamey, Jerry J. Kaczur, Emily Barton Cole, Paul Majsztrik, Narayanappa Sivasankar, Andrew B. Bocarsly
  • Patent number: 8845876
    Abstract: The present disclosure is a system and method for producing a first product from a first region of an electrochemical cell having a cathode and a second product from a second region of the electrochemical cell having an anode. The method may include a step of contacting the first region with a catholyte comprising carbon dioxide. The method may include another step of contacting the second region with an anolyte comprising a recycled reactant and at least one of an alkane, haloalkane, alkene, haloalkene, aromatic compound, haloaromatic compound, heteroaromatic compound or halo-heteroaromatic compound. Further, the method may include a step of applying an electrical potential between the anode and the cathode sufficient to produce a first product recoverable from the first region and a second product recoverable from the second region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Liquid Light, Inc.
    Inventors: Kyle Teamey, Jerry J. Kaczur
  • Patent number: 8845877
    Abstract: A method for heterocycle catalyzed electrochemical reduction of a carbonyl compound is disclosed. The method generally includes steps (A) to (C). Step (A) may introduce the carbonyl compound into a solution of an electrolyte and a heterocycle catalyst in a divided electrochemical cell. The divided electrochemical cell may include an anode in a first cell compartment and a cathode in a second cell compartment. The cathode generally reduces the carbonyl compound to at least one aldehyde compound. Step (B) may vary which of the aldehyde compounds is produced by adjusting one or more of (i) a cathode material, (ii) the electrolyte, (iii) the heterocycle catalyst, (iv) a pH level and (v) an electrical potential. Step (C) may separate the aldehyde compounds from the solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Liquid Light, Inc.
    Inventors: Emily Barton Cole, Andrew Bocarsly
  • Patent number: 8845878
    Abstract: A method reducing carbon dioxide to one or more products may include steps (A) to (C). Step (A) may bubble said carbon dioxide into a solution of an electrolyte and a catalyst in a divided electrochemical cell. The divided electrochemical cell may include an anode in a first cell compartment and a cathode in a second cell compartment. The cathode may reduce said carbon dioxide into said products. Step (B) may adjust one or more of (a) a cathode material, (b) a surface morphology of said cathode, (c) said electrolyte, (d) a manner in which said carbon dioxide is bubbled, (e), a pH level of said solution, and (f) an electrical potential of said divided electrochemical cell, to vary at least one of (i) which of said products is produced and (ii) a faradaic yield of said products. Step (C) may separate said products from said solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Liquid Light, Inc.
    Inventors: Emily Barton Cole, Narayanappa Sivasankar, Rishi Parajuli, Kate A. Keets
  • Publication number: 20140262770
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system for fabricating an electrochemical cell that includes switchable components for combinatorial evaluation of materials, solvents, membranes, separators and the like for electrochemical applications. The system includes at least one cell block and at least one electrode plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Liquid Light, Inc.
    Inventors: Theodore J. Kramer, Emily B. Cole, Kyle Teamey
  • Patent number: 8821709
    Abstract: Methods and systems for electrochemically generating an oxidation product and a reduction product may include one or more operations including, but not limited to: receiving a feed of at least one organic compound into an anolyte region of an electrochemical cell including an anode; at least partially oxidizing the at least one organic compound at the anode to generate at least carbon dioxide; receiving a feed including carbon dioxide into a catholyte region of the electrochemical cell including a cathode; and at least partially reducing carbon dioxide to generate a reduction product at the cathode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Liquid Light, Inc.
    Inventors: Kyle Teamey, Jerry J. Kaczur, Narayanappa Sivasankar, Paul Majsztrik, Emily Barton Cole, Andrew B. Bocarsly
  • Publication number: 20140238871
    Abstract: A method for electrochemical production of synthesis gas from carbon dioxide is disclosed. The method generally includes steps (A) to (C). Step (A) may bubble the carbon dioxide into a solution of an electrolyte and a catalyst in a divided electrochemical cell. The divided electrochemical cell may include an anode in a first cell compartment and a cathode in a second cell compartment. The cathode generally reduces the carbon dioxide into a plurality of components. Step (B) may establish a molar ratio of the components in the synthesis gas by adjusting at least one of (i) a cathode material and (ii) a surface morphology of the cathode. Step (C) may separate the synthesis gas from the solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: Liquid Light, Inc.
    Inventors: Narayanappa Sivasankar, Emily Barton Cole, Kyle Teamey
  • Publication number: 20140221684
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes a system and method for co-producing a first product and a second product. The system may include a first electrochemical cell, at least one second reactor, and an acidification chamber. The method and system for co-producing a first product and a second product may include co-producing a carboxylic acid and at least one of an alkene, alkyne, aldehyde, ketone, or an alcohol while employing a recycled halide salt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: Liquid Light, Inc.
    Inventors: Kyle Teamey, Jerry J. Kaczur
  • Publication number: 20140206895
    Abstract: The present disclosure is a method and system for production of oxalic acid and oxalic acid reduction products. The production of oxalic acid and oxalic acid reduction products may include the electrochemical conversion of CO2 to oxalate and oxalic acid. The method and system for production of oxalic acid and oxalic acid reduction products may further include the acidification of oxalate to oxalic acid, the purification of oxalic acid and the hydrogenation of oxalic acid to produce oxalic acid reduction products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: Liquid Light, Inc.
    Inventors: Zbigniew Twardowski, Emily Barton Cole, Jerry J. Kaczur, Kyle Teamey, Kate A. Keets, Rishi Parajuli, Alexander Bauer, Narayanappa Sivasankar, George Leonard, Theodore J. Kramer, Paul Majsztrik, Yizu Zhu
  • Publication number: 20140206894
    Abstract: The present disclosure is a method and system for production of oxalic acid and oxalic acid reduction products. The production of oxalic acid and oxalic acid reduction products may include the electrochemical conversion of CO2 to oxalate and oxalic acid. The method and system for production of oxalic acid and oxalic acid reduction products may further include the acidification of oxalate to oxalic acid, the purification of oxalic acid and the hydrogenation of oxalic acid to produce oxalic acid reduction products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: Liquid Light, Inc.
    Inventors: Emily Barton Cole, Jerry J. Kaczur, Kyle Teamey, Kate A. Keets, Rishi Parajuli, Alexander Bauer, Narayanappa Sivasankar, George Leonard, Theodore J. Kramer, Paul Majsztrik, Yizu Zhu, Robert Farrauto, Robert Augustine, Setrak Tanielyan, Mohanreddy Kasireddy