{"title":"Electro-oxidative upgrading of lignite alkali-soluble derivatives for clean production of fulvic acids using NiCo-LDH@NiC2O4/NF anode†","authors":"Haiyan Ge, Jining Zhou, Zhicai Wang, Xiaobiao Yan, Chunxiu Pan, Zhiping Lei, Zhanku Li, Jingchong Yan, Weidong Zhang, Shibiao Ren, Shigang Kang and Hengfu Shui","doi":"10.1039/D4GC04899G","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p >Utilizing renewable electricity and cost-effective carbon resources to facilitate water electrolysis for hydrogen production represents a promising and efficient technology for energy storage and conversion. Anode valorization <em>via</em> selective oxidation can produce valuable chemicals, offering a cleaner alternative to chemical oxidation. In this study, to upgrade lignite alkali-soluble derivatives (ASD), a novel NiCo-LDH@NiC<small><sub>2</sub></small>O<small><sub>4</sub></small>/NF electrode was developed using a continuous electrochemical deposition method. When employed as the anode, this electrode achieved an 85% conversion of mandelic acid (MA) to benzoic acid with over 95% selectivity at a constant potential of 1.5 V (<em>vs.</em> RHE) in a 1.0 M KOH solution over 1 h. Concurrently, 75% of ASD was successfully upgraded to fulvic acid (FA) with a selectivity exceeding 90%. Compared to NiCo-LDH/NF and NiC<small><sub>2</sub></small>O<small><sub>4</sub></small>/NF electrodes, the NiCo-LDH@NiC<small><sub>2</sub></small>O<small><sub>4</sub></small>/NF demonstrated superior electro-catalytic activity and stability. NiCo-LDH is the main active phase, while the pre-deposited NiC<small><sub>2</sub></small>O<small><sub>4</sub></small> significantly enhances both its catalytic activity and stability. The degradation of MA involves the cleavage of the ArC(OH)–C bond due to OH activation, whereas the depolymerization of ASD into FA is primarily attributed to the ring-opening oxidation of aromatic nuclei. The present work provides a green and efficient electro-oxidation strategy, coupled with a novel non-precious metal electrocatalyst, to produce coal-based aromatic carboxylic acids, marking a significant step towards more sustainable and environmentally friendly coal-based chemical manufacturing.</p>","PeriodicalId":78,"journal":{"name":"Green Chemistry","volume":" 2","pages":" 473-484"},"PeriodicalIF":9.3000,"publicationDate":"2024-11-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Green Chemistry","FirstCategoryId":"92","ListUrlMain":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2025/gc/d4gc04899g","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"CHEMISTRY, MULTIDISCIPLINARY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Utilizing renewable electricity and cost-effective carbon resources to facilitate water electrolysis for hydrogen production represents a promising and efficient technology for energy storage and conversion. Anode valorization via selective oxidation can produce valuable chemicals, offering a cleaner alternative to chemical oxidation. In this study, to upgrade lignite alkali-soluble derivatives (ASD), a novel NiCo-LDH@NiC2O4/NF electrode was developed using a continuous electrochemical deposition method. When employed as the anode, this electrode achieved an 85% conversion of mandelic acid (MA) to benzoic acid with over 95% selectivity at a constant potential of 1.5 V (vs. RHE) in a 1.0 M KOH solution over 1 h. Concurrently, 75% of ASD was successfully upgraded to fulvic acid (FA) with a selectivity exceeding 90%. Compared to NiCo-LDH/NF and NiC2O4/NF electrodes, the NiCo-LDH@NiC2O4/NF demonstrated superior electro-catalytic activity and stability. NiCo-LDH is the main active phase, while the pre-deposited NiC2O4 significantly enhances both its catalytic activity and stability. The degradation of MA involves the cleavage of the ArC(OH)–C bond due to OH activation, whereas the depolymerization of ASD into FA is primarily attributed to the ring-opening oxidation of aromatic nuclei. The present work provides a green and efficient electro-oxidation strategy, coupled with a novel non-precious metal electrocatalyst, to produce coal-based aromatic carboxylic acids, marking a significant step towards more sustainable and environmentally friendly coal-based chemical manufacturing.
期刊介绍:
Green Chemistry is a journal that provides a unique forum for the publication of innovative research on the development of alternative green and sustainable technologies. The scope of Green Chemistry is based on the definition proposed by Anastas and Warner (Green Chemistry: Theory and Practice, P T Anastas and J C Warner, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1998), which defines green chemistry as the utilisation of a set of principles that reduces or eliminates the use or generation of hazardous substances in the design, manufacture and application of chemical products. Green Chemistry aims to reduce the environmental impact of the chemical enterprise by developing a technology base that is inherently non-toxic to living things and the environment. The journal welcomes submissions on all aspects of research relating to this endeavor and publishes original and significant cutting-edge research that is likely to be of wide general appeal. For a work to be published, it must present a significant advance in green chemistry, including a comparison with existing methods and a demonstration of advantages over those methods.