Electrosynthesis of Glyoxylic Acid in a Packed Bed Reactor

Glyoxylic acid was produced by electroreduction of oxalic acid in a packed bed reator. The cathodic and anodic electrolytes were super-saturated oxalic and hydrochloric acid aqueous solutions separated by a super-acid ion-exchange membrane. The current efficiency and yield of glyoxylic acid were studied under different structured packed bed reactors and different electrode materials, temperatures and current densities. The results indicated that the current efficiency of synthsis of glyoxylic acid was over 66.2% and the concentration of glyoxylic acid could reach 2.02% after 45min electrolysis with cathode of lead particles and anode of graphite board under conditions of temperature 32 ℃, superficial flow rate of 0.505 m·s-1 and current density of 96.3 A·m-2 in a packed bed reactor with double-anode cell.