【Frontiers of HaiChuan Technology】Chinese scientists develop a new method for synthesizing adipic acid

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The Institute of Physical and Chemical Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, recently announced that a team led by Chen Yong, a researcher at the Institute’s Center for Photochemical Conversion and Synthesis, has proposed a method for the green electrosynthesis of adipic acid using phenolic compounds derived from lignin as raw materials, with water serving as the sole source of hydrogen/oxygen, and through an electrochemical paired-electrolysis strategy. Bimetallic catalysts: This work achieved high electrocatalytic activity by designing and synthesizing bimetallic catalysts. Studies have shown that using a PtAu alloy as the cathodic catalyst enables the efficient conversion of phenol into KA oil, with a yield of 92% and a Faradaic efficiency of 43% ； KA oil was electrooxidized to adipic acid on the CuCo₂O₄ anode catalyst, with a yield of 85% and a Faradaic efficiency of 84%. KA oil, in particular, has poor solubility in aqueous solutions and slow diffusion, which makes it difficult for it to accumulate and adsorb on the catalyst surface for electrocatalytic oxidation reactions, resulting in low catalytic activity. Furthermore, due to mass transfer limitations, the oxygen evolution reaction, as a competing reaction, will dominate at high current densities, thereby reducing the Faradaic efficiency and increasing the energy consumption of the reaction. To address the aforementioned issues, the team proposed a strategy for regulating the catalyst interface microenvironment, and designed and synthesized a cobalt tetraoxide/graphyne composite electrocatalyst. This composite catalyst can more efficiently concentrate and adsorb organic reaction substrates, thereby increasing the reaction rate and Faradaic efficiency of the electrooxidation of KA oil to produce adipic acid. It is reported that adipic acid is a basic chemical raw material for various nylon polymers, pharmaceuticals, lubricants, plasticizers, and food additives, especially used as a monomer in the production of nylon-66 and polyurethanes. Commercially available adipic acid products that have been clearly documented worldwide are all prepared from benzene through a two-step process of thermal catalytic hydrogenation and nitric acid oxidation.