A proof of concept for the electro-refinery: Selective electroproduction of acetic acid from t-CNSL waste by using DSA electrode

[Display omitted] •Electro-refinery concept: from waste to resources.•Softer electrolysis to produce selected high added value products.•DSA-electrolysis for selective production of acetic acid.•Electrochemical conversion of cashew nutshell waste to carboxylic acids. The performance of Ti/RuO2IrO2TiO2 anode in the electrochemical conversion of the pollutants contained in the technical liquid of the cashew nutshell waste (t-CNSL) to carboxylic acids (as high added value products) was investigated. The effect of supporting electrolyte and t-CNSL concentrations was studied to determine the best formulation for being electrolyzed with the target of valorization of products. Afterwards, under the optimal formulation conditions, the effect of the applied current density (j) was also evaluated to determine the best operation conditions for producing carboxylic acids. It was observed a selective production of acetic acid as high as 11.7%, which opens the possibility of further studies about the application of the electro-refinery concept for other wastes.