On Oct. 1 the Institute of Physics and Chemistry at the Chinese Academy of
Sciences said its Low-Temperature Science and Technology National Laboratory has
for the first time proposed using alternating current (AC) to drive direct
seawater electrolysis. The group says the AC approach removes the need for
seawater pretreatment and ion-exchange membranes, addressing
precipitation/scaling constraints and reducing system complexity and hydrogen
production cost. The method is presented as compatible with offshore renewable
generators for integrated offshore-power-to-hydrogen production, supplying
low-cost green hydrogen upstream in the value chain. The team also proposes
coupling the process with ethylene glycol oxidation to co-produce high-value
glycolic acid, which it says would improve project economics and flexibility.
