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An Intensified Electro-Catalytic Process for Production of Formic Acid from Power Plant CO2 Emissions (Final Technical Report)

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1860495· OSTI ID:1860495
 [1];  [2];  [2];  [2];  [2];  [2]
  1. Univ. of Kentucky, Lexington, KY (United States); University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research
  2. Univ. of Kentucky, Lexington, KY (United States)
The goal of this project was to develop and test a novel electro-catalytic method for the production of high-value formic acid from coal-derived CO2 as a strategy to offset the cost of CO2 capture. Formic acid is currently produced from the conversion of higher-order carbon products such as methane and/or methanol. This electro-catalytic CO2 reduction process utilizes a highly selective catalyst in a flow-through reactor design to maximize the formic acid production rate. The specific objectives of this proposed study were to; 1) produce and screen highly selective engineered CO2 reducing catalysts capable of exclusively producing formic acid; 2) immobilize the catalyst within a flow process to continually produce formic acid and increase catalyst lifetime; and 3) assess the stability of the electrocatalyst during long-term operation. The project involved the development and testing of an engineered catalyst to selectively reduce CO2 directly and exclusively to formic acid. After the best-performing catalyst was selected, it was immobilized and tested inside a flow-through reactor at UK CAER using realistic conditions expected from CO2 produced during coal combustion and separated by a CO2 capture plant.
Research Organization:
Univ. of Kentucky, Lexington, KY (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Fossil Energy (FE)
Contributing Organization:
Uslan National Institute of Science and Technology
DOE Contract Number:
FE0031720
OSTI ID:
1860495
Report Number(s):
DOE-UKCAER-31720F
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English