The_Catalyst_Review_August_2023 - 20

Movers & Shakers
Onofrio Scialdone
Full Professor of Industrial Chemistry, Electrochemical Engineering Laboratory,
University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
Onofrio Scialdone earned a master's degree in chemical engineering from the University of Palermo, a
PhD in electrochemical engineering from Polytechnic of Milan, and an MBA in " Energy and Environmental
Management and Economics " at " Scuola Enrico Mattei " in Milan. He worked first as a consultant for The
Boston Consulting Group before joining the University of Palermo, where for the past 20-plus years, he has
conducted research in electrochemical engineering and industrial chemistry. His studies focus mainly on
developing innovative electrochemical processes for synthesizing fine chemicals, wastewater treatment,
soil remediation, energy generation, carbon dioxide conversion, polymer synthesis, and use of supercritical
fluids for various chemical processes. Since 2019 he has been a member of the Board of Directors of the
University of Palermo and is president of its " Teaching and Research " committee. He can be reached at
onofrio.scialdone@unipa.it.
The Catalyst Review asks Prof. Scialdone to share his thoughts on the status of the electrochemical
conversion of carbon dioxide and his research activities in this field.
The electrochemical reduction of CO2
is considered to be one of the most promising strategies to valorize waste-CO2
as a feedstock
for producing various value-added chemicals. This process can be performed under mild conditions (ie, room temperature and low
pressures) to produce different compounds, such as carbon monoxide, syngas, formic acid, ethylene, methanol, ethanol, propanol,
etc., by a proper selection of electrocatalytic materials, solvents, and other operative conditions. Many research groups are actively
involved in this field, and significant innovations have been achieved in the last few years. However, according to various authors, the
electrochemical conversion of carbon dioxide is not yet economically competitive. The generation of simple products such as CO and
formic acid could soon be profitable due to their market value, the low number of electrons (two) required for their formation, and the
outcomes achieved. Indeed, CO and formic acid show the highest product value per electron, relatively high selectivity, and faradic
efficiency, even if the formic acid has a relatively small market potential. In the future, it will be necessary to improve the performances
of these processes and adopt electrocatalysts to achieve high selectivity and faradic efficiency coupled with high productivity, lower
energetic consumptions, and high stability of catalysts. Moreover, for the production of formic acid/formate, an increase in the final
concentration will be required.
In our laboratory, we are studying different approaches to improve the performances of the electrochemical conversion of CO2
, mainly
to formic acid, CO, and syngas, using pressurized reactors or microfluidic cells and innovative electrocatalysts. In particular, we found
that using pressurized electrochemical reactors at relatively low temperatures enhances selectivity, faradic efficiency, and productivity.
In the case of syngas production, use of pressurized CO2
allows for using simpler and cheaper electrocatalysts to tune the ratio H2
/
CO while achieving higher final concentrations of formic acid. For example, syngas was produced with a selectivity close to 100%, a
relatively high current density, while exhibiting a promising stability at 20-30 bars.
We are also focusing on the utilization of undivided electrochemical cells with a minimal gap (< 100 µm) between the electrodes,
which in the case of the production of formic acid, allows for reduced cell potentials, avoids the use of the supporting electrolyte, and
improves the selectivity of the process.
It is important to highlight that the economic perspectives of the electrochemical conversion of CO2
may be significantly improved
using paired electrolysis that substitutes the conventional anodic evolution of oxygen with other anodic processes that can add
economic value to the overall system. Hence, in our group, we are studying various anodic processes (ranging from the synthesis of
chemicals to the electrochemical treatment of wastewater) which can be coupled to the cathodic conversion of CO2
order to reduce the energetic consumption of the electrochemical conversion of CO2
using a small reverse-electrodialysis stack and salinity gradients.
. Eventually, in
, we are also working on a process based on
Coming Soon - Topics Include:
* Lignin Valorization
* Polymetric Catalysis
* Nitrogen Catalysis * Advanced Electrolysis Chemicals
20
The Catalyst Review
August 2023
The_Catalyst_Review_August_2023

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