University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Flow electrooxidation of glycerol for industrial-scale applications

Gaines, Rachel Naomi

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/130139

Description

Title
Flow electrooxidation of glycerol for industrial-scale applications
Author(s)
Gaines, Rachel Naomi
Issue Date
2025-07-10
Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)
Kenis, Paul JA
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
Kenis, Paul JA
Committee Member(s)
  • Stillwell, Ashlynn S
  • Schoetz, Theresa
  • Rodriguez-Lopez, Joaquin
Department of Study
Chemical & Biomolecular Engr
Discipline
Chemical Engineering
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
  • Glycerol
  • methanol
  • crude glycerol
  • waste glycerol
  • reaction engineering
  • chemical engineering
  • oxidation
  • chemical manufacturing
  • electrocatalysis
  • catalysis
  • electrolysis
  • electrooxidation
  • waste management
  • waste valorization
  • electrification
  • process intensification
  • flow electrolysis
  • flow electrolyzer
  • membrane electrode assembly
  • MEA
  • industrial manufacturing
  • paired electrolysis
  • co-electrolysis
  • co-conversion
  • CO2 reduction
  • carbon dioxide
  • electroreduction
  • complex waste streams
  • durability
  • degradation
  • process heat
  • hydrogen evolution
  • reactor engineering
  • process design
  • technoeconomic analysis
  • life cycle assessment
  • scale-up
Abstract
Disposal of waste from manufacturing activities threatens human health, process profitability, and environmental sustainability. Purification and/or valorization of this waste addresses all three of these critical challenges. Electrocatalysis is a promising method for purification and valorization of waste, as it is compatible with renewable electricity and can produce two different products (one from the oxidation reaction and one from the reduction reaction) for the same energy input. In this dissertation, I focus on a specific type of carbonaceous waste – glycerol. Glycerol is a byproduct of biodiesel production, and its electrocatalytic valorization can enhance the financial and environmental sustainability of biodiesel manufacturing. I evaluate the valorization of waste glycerol through three objectives: (1) Can glycerol electrocatalysis be scaled from batch to flow systems, to improve translatability into industrial manufacturing facilities? (Chapters 2-3) (2) Can industrially-sourced waste glycerol be effectively valorized in flow systems? (Chapters 4-5) (3) Can electrocatalysis of waste glycerol be paired with another waste stream to generate additional valuable chemicals? (Chapter 6) I address these questions by using flow electrolyzers, multivariate optimization protocols, and a comprehensive analysis of catalyst materials, feed compositions, and operating regimes. My results demonstrate optimal conditions for reaction selectivity and activity; key catalysts and operating conditions for reaction stability and economic viability; and requisite operating conditions for multi-waste valorizability. These results lay the foundation for economically-viable scale-up of waste glycerol electrocatalysis. More broadly, they demonstrate a cohesive evaluation of the opportunities present in valorization of complex waste streams.
Graduation Semester
2025-08
Type of Resource
Thesis
Handle URL
https://hdl.handle.net/2142/130139
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 2025 Rachel N. Gaines

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