FIELD: chemistry.
SUBSTANCE: invention relates to a method for simultaneous decarboxylation of carbohydrate and reduction of carbohydrate aldehyde in an electrochemical cell. Method comprises: providing an electrochemical cell comprising three chambers comprising an anode chamber, a central chamber and a cathode chamber, wherein said electrochemical cell further comprises a cationic membrane located between the anode chamber and the central chamber and in contact with said chambers, bipolar membrane located between central chamber and cathode chamber and in contact with said chambers, wherein said cationic membrane is configured to pass monovalent cations, said cathode chamber contains said carbohydrate aldehyde, catholyte and cathode, and said anode chamber contains carbohydrate acid, anolyte and anode, wherein said bipolar membrane includes an anion-exchange side facing the anode, and a cation-exchange side facing the cathode; supplying electric current to said cell and obtaining carbohydrate aldehyde in said anolyte, monovalent cation hydroxide in solution in central chamber and sugar alcohol in said catholyte; and adding to said anolyte a monovalent cation hydroxide selected from a group consisting of: sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide and ammonium hydroxide; and wherein said carbohydrate acid is at least 5 % neutralized in salt form, and wherein said ratio of monovalent cation to said carbohydrate in anolyte is maintained to allow neutralization of available carbohydrate for decarboxylation.
EFFECT: use of the proposed invention enables to obtain a purer hydroxide compound.
14 cl, 1 ex
