Trends and Challenges in Electrifying Technical Organic Synthesis

Organic electrosynthesis is a potential enabler for the energy and resource transition in the chemical industry as it offers a sustainable alternative to homogeneous or heterogeneous processes for producing fine and commodity chemicals. It utilizes electricity instead of hazardous reagents and, thus, also allows reducing the product’s carbon footprint and waste production. It enables dynamic operation and safe operation due to galvanostatic process control. Electro-organic processes are not yet widespread. Engineering tools have not yet been tailored to electro-organic processes, and more quantitative and model-based insight is needed. Extensive adoption in the industry requires also efforts regarding electrode material performance and stability, scalable reactor design, and process digitization. Addressing these issues requires interdisciplinary
collaboration, particularly between chemists and engineers, to accelerate process implementation with high efficiency and economic feasibility.