催化学报 ›› 2025, Vol. 73: 79-98.DOI: 10.1016/S1872-2067(25)64710-3

• 综述 • 上一篇    下一篇

电催化乙二醇选择性氧化制备乙醇酸的最新进展

陈洁, 李静(), 魏子栋()   

  1. 重庆大学化学化工学院, 重庆 401331
  • 收稿日期:2024-12-19 接受日期:2025-02-19 出版日期:2025-06-18 发布日期:2025-06-20
  • 通讯作者: *电子信箱: lijing@cqu.edu.cn (李静),zdwei@cqu.edu.cn (魏子栋).
  • 基金资助:
    国家重点研发计划(2022YFA1504200);国家自然科学基金(22279012)

Recent advances in the preparation of glycolic acid by selective electrocatalytic oxidation of ethylene glycol

Jie Chen, Jing Li(), Zidong Wei()   

  1. School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 401331, China
  • Received:2024-12-19 Accepted:2025-02-19 Online:2025-06-18 Published:2025-06-20
  • Contact: *E-mail: lijing@cqu.edu.cn (J. Li),zdwei@cqu.edu.cn (Z. Wei).
  • About author:Jing Li received her Bachelor's degree from Tianjin University in 1999 and earned her PhD from the National University of Singapore in 2008. Following her postdoctoral research at Fudan University (2008-2011), she became an Associate Professor at Tongji University (2011-2012). She then served as a Research Scientist at Singapore's Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE) from 2012 to 2014. Since 2014, Dr. Li has held the position of Full Professor at Chongqing University's School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, where her research focuses on electrocatalysis, organic electrosynthesis, and chemical energy conversion.
    Zidong Wei (School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chongqing University) has been invited to serve as an associate editor for the 6th Editorial Board of Chin. J. Catal. Prof. Zidong Wei earned his Ph.D. in applied chemistry from Tianjin University in 1994 and joined Chongqing University in June 1997. From 2010 to 2021, he served as the Dean of School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering. He was honored as a Chungkung Professor by the Ministry of Education of China in 2009. Currently, he is the Director of the National Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Chemical Process Intensification at Chongqing University. His research focuses on chemical energy conversation, electrocatalysis, electrosynthesis, advanced chemical power and water electrolysis, combining experimental investigations with theoretical simulation. He has published over 300 peer-reviewed papers and holds more than 40 Chinese invention patents. His work has been cited over 23,000 times. Additionally, he is the author of two books: Electrochemical Catalysis, and Electrocatalysis of Oxygen Reduction Reaction.
  • Supported by:
    National Key Research and Development Program of China(2022YFA1504200);National Natural Science Foundation of China(22279012)

摘要:

随着可持续发展理念的深入人心, 变废为宝的思想正日益成为社会共识. 塑料作为现代生活中不可或缺的材料, 其不当处置导致的焚烧和填埋问题日益严峻. 其中, 聚对苯二甲酸乙二醇酯(PET)作为包装和纺织品领域的主要塑料, 其回收利用尤为关键. 在此背景下,采用电催化技术将废PET衍生的乙二醇(EG)高效转化为高附加值产物乙醇酸(GA), 不仅具有重要的环境效益, 更展现出显著的经济价值和应用前景. 然而, EG具有两个相同且相对活泼的羟基, 如何选择性地氧化其中一个羟基以避免其过度氧化或发生C-C键断裂是一个巨大的挑战. 近年来, 通过采用不同策略对催化剂的电子结构进行调控, 有效地防止了C-C键的进一步断裂. 本文系统综述了EG选择性电催化氧化制备GA的最新研究进展及其反应机理, 旨在为开发高效催化体系提供理论指导, 进而推动绿色化学与可持续发展战略的实施.

本文系统地总结了电催化EG选择性氧化制GA的最新研究进展. 首先, 详细地介绍了EG高效选择性氧化制GA电催化剂的最新研究成果, 研究主要从合金化、界面工程、单原子和杂原子掺杂四个方面入手, 深入探讨了不同策略对催化剂电子结构的影响, 从而优化反应中间体在催化剂表面的吸附强度, 防止C-C键断裂, 提高GA选择性. 其次, 通过回顾在线差分电化学质谱法、原位傅立叶变换红外光谱和原位电化学衰减全反射表面增强红外吸收光谱的数据, 阐明了EG选择氧化制GA的反应途径和催化机理. 最后, 对未来电催化EG选择性氧化制GA催化剂的设计和调控进行了展望: (1) 尝试探索其他基底材料. 目前, 绝大多数电催化剂大多使用泡沫镍(NF)作为底物, 以达到较高的电流密度. 相比之下, 粉末状催化剂材料的电流密度较低, 难以满足工业电流密度. 但NF材料的成本相对较高, 而且受到外力作用时骨架容易塌陷和腐蚀. 因此, 后续可尝试探索其他更具优势的基底材料, 例如碳布、石墨烯或还原氧化石墨烯等, 进一步提高性能, 降低成本. (2) 提高阳极制氢的原子利用率. 乙二醇氧化反应(EGOR)是一个连续的去质子化过程, 去除的*H通常会与电解质中的*OH结合生成水, 这大大降低了原子的有效利用率. (3) 亲氧性金属氧化物或氢氧化物的设计和构造可有效提高产物选择性、催化剂电流密度和稳定性. 亲氧金属氧化物或氢氧化物可提高碱性溶液中OH-的转化率, 生成*OH活性物种, 并促进催化剂表面*CO物种的去除, 避免催化剂中毒. (4) 贵金属基催化剂成本高、储量少的问题仍有待解决. 目前有关EGOR电催化剂的研究仍主要集中在贵金属基催化剂上, 未来的研究方向应减少对贵金属基催化剂的依赖, 积极探索非贵金属基催化剂(如过渡金属Co, Cu, Ni, Mo等)的潜力. (5) 开发酸性条件下的EGOR电催化剂. 简化羧酸产物的分离和纯化过程, 从而降低成本. (6) 对EGOR氧化生成GA的整个机理过程还缺乏更深入的探索. 合理利用原位表征技术监测反应过程中的催化剂活性位点和反应中间产物, 如原位拉曼光谱、原位X射线吸收光谱等, 有助于深入了解反应机理, 从而实现精确调控.

综上, 本综述系统地总结了电催化EG选择性制GA的优势, 研究进展、反应路径、反应机制以及目前存在的挑战, 希望通过推动相关研究人员进一步思考, 进一步推动利用电催化技术将废PET衍生的生物质小分子EG转化生成GA, 开发高效的电催化剂提供一定的参考和借鉴.

关键词: 电催化, 乙二醇, 乙醇酸, 乙二醇氧化反应, 贵金属催化剂

Abstract:

Ethylene glycol (EG) is a biomass derivative of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and its electrocatalytic conversion into high-value chemicals has sparked widespread interest. This study reviews the most recent research development in electrocatalysis-based EG to glycolic acid (GA) conversion. Firstly, the strategies and research results of modulating the electronic structure of catalysts for efficient selective GA production from EG are reviewed. Second, by reviewing the data of in-situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and in-situ electrochemically attenuated total reflection surface enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy, the reaction pathway and catalytic mechanism of EG partial oxidation to GA were clarified. Finally, the design and regulation of catalysts for selective oxidation of EG by electrocatalysis in the future are prospected.

Key words: Electrocatalysis, Ethylene glycol, Glycolic acid, Ethylene glycol oxidization reaction, Noble metal catalyst