Abstract: Methods for utilizing carbon dioxide to produce multi-carbon products are disclosed. The systems and methods of the present disclosure involve: reducing CO2 to produce a first product mixture comprising an alcohol product mixture comprising one or more alcohols and a paraffin product mixture comprising one or more paraffins; dehydrating the alcohol product mixture to form an olefin product mixture comprising one or more olefins; oligomerizing the olefin product mixture to form a higher olefin product mixture comprising unsaturated paraffins and optionally aromatics; and reducing the higher olefin product mixture to form a higher hydrocarbon product mixture comprising unsaturated paraffins and optionally aromatics. Catalyst materials and reaction conditions for individual steps are disclosed to optimize yield for ethanol or jet fuel range hydrocarbons.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides catalysts, reactor systems, and methods for the conversion of carbon dioxide and hydrogen gas into paraffins, olefins, and other hydrocarbon products. Methods for utilization of mixtures of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen gas in a manner distinct from legacy Fischer-Tropsch reactors to produce hydrocarbons is also included.

Abstract: Methods for producing alcohols by deriving carbon dioxide from air or another dilute source, and supplying water, which is converted to hydrogen and oxygen, with subsequent conversion of the carbon dioxide and hydrogen into alcohols is disclosed. The method includes, but is not limited to including, a direct air capture system carbon dioxide, a water electrolysis unit powered by electricity, a hydrogenation reactor to convert carbon dioxide and hydrogen gases into alcohols, and a distillation system to separate alcohols or a single constituent alcohol from other hydrogenation products. Optionally, these methods may include systems capture water from air, if water or hydrogen is not available on-site, and the distillation system may use propylene glycol as an extraction solvent. This process can be used for on-site production of feedstock alcohols such as ethanol at high purity, and many other applications.

Abstract: Methods for producing alcohols by deriving carbon dioxide from air or another dilute source, and supplying water, which is converted to hydrogen and oxygen, with subsequent conversion of the carbon dioxide and hydrogen into alcohols is disclosed. The method includes, but is not limited to including, a direct air capture system carbon dioxide, a water electrolysis unit powered by electricity, a hydrogenation reactor to convert carbon dioxide and hydrogen gases into alcohols, and a distillation system to separate alcohols or a single constituent alcohol from other hydrogenation products. Optionally, these methods may include systems capture water from air, if water or hydrogen is not available on-site, and the distillation system may use propylene glycol as an extraction solvent. This process can be used for on-site production of feedstock alcohols such as ethanol at high purity, and many other applications.

Abstract: Electrochemical devices, such as membrane electrode assemblies and electrochemical reactors, are described herein, as well as and methods for the conversion of reactants such as carbon dioxide to value-added products such as ethanol. In certain aspects, the membrane electrode assemblies are configured to allow for distributed pressure along the cathodic side of a membrane electrode assembly is described. The pressure vessel acts as a cathode chamber, both for the feed of reactant carbon dioxide as well as collection of products. The designs described herein improves the safety of high pressure electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction and allows for varied pressures to be used, in order to optimize reaction conditions. Configurations optimized for producing preferred products, such as ethanol, are also described.