Biogenic Formic Acid as a Green Hydrogen Carrier. Issue 3 (2nd March 2018) - Preuster, Patrick
Abstract: Formic acid (FA) is an important platform chemical that has numerous applications in the chemical and agricultural industries, as well as in the leather industry. To date, FA is exclusively produced from fossil raw materials using either carbonylation of methanol or acidolysis of formates. Here, sustainable and environmentally friendly approaches to produce biogenic FA from biomass (e.g., OxFA‐process) are presented and combined with different approaches for the catalytic decomposition of bio‐based FA solutions. Several homogeneous and heterogeneous approaches for the catalytic decomposition of aqueous FA to hydrogen and CO2 are compared for their applicability. Moreover, their technical applications in fuel cells, as energy storage vectors, and as hydrogen storage molecules are discussed. Abstract : Formic acid as hydrogen carrier : While the production of formic acid (FA) on an industrial scale is currently based exclusively on fossil resources that have a negative impact on the environment, the OxFA process and similar biomass conversion technologies offer a sustainable way to produce biogenic FA. Furthermore, the catalytic decomposition of aqueous FA solutions by homogeneous or heterogeneous approaches is demonstrated, highlighting the technical relevance of this emerging research field.