title: Effects of hydrophobicity of diffusion layer on the electroreduction of biomass derivatives in polymer electrolyte membrane reactors.
abstract: For the first time, the hydrophobicity design of a diffusion layer based on the volatility of hydrogenation reactants in aqueous solutions is reported. The hydrophobicity of the diffusion layer greatly influences the hydrogenation performance of two model biomass derivatives, namely, butanone and maleic acid, in polymer electrolyte membrane reactors operated at atmospheric pressure. Hydrophobic carbon paper repels aqueous solutions, but highly volatile butanone can permeate in vapor form and achieve a high hydrogenation rate, whereas, for nonvolatile maleic acid, great mass transfer resistance prevents hydrogenation. With a hydrophilic stainless-steel welded mesh diffusion layer, aqueous solutions of both butanone and maleic acid permeate in liquid form. Hydrogenation of maleic acid reaches a similar level as that of butanone. The maximum reaction rate is 340 nmol cm(-2)  s(-1) for both hydrogenation systems and the current efficiency reaches 70 %. These results are better than those reported in the literature.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Research and Development Center of Membrane Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, 2 Linggong Road, Dalian, 116024 (P.R. China), Fax: (+86) 411-8498-6291 http://gs1.dlut.edu.cn/Supervisor/Front/dsxx/new/Default.aspx?WebPageName=wuxuemei.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Gaohong
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Feilong
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ge
authors.forename: Wu
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Jay
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Benziger
authors.forename: Xuemei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D056804:Biofuels; D018533:Biomass; D002074:Butanones / Q000737:chemistry; D002384:Catalysis; D004058:Diffusion; D004563:Electrochemistry; D005465:Fluorocarbon Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D006865:Hydrogenation; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D008298:Maleates / Q000737:chemistry; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene / Q000737:chemistry; D013193:Stainless Steel / Q000737:chemistry; D014835:Volatilization; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D002074:Butanones; D005465:Fluorocarbon Polymers; D008298:Maleates; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D011108:Polymers; D014867:Water; D013193:Stainless Steel; C040402:perfluorosulfonic acid; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; C030272:maleic acid
keywords: biomass; diffusion layers; electrochemistry; fuel cells; hydrogenation