The chemical transformation of carbon dioxide into useful products becomes increasingly important as CO2 levels in the atmosphere continue to rise as a consequence of human activities. In this article we describe the direct hydrogenation of CO2 into formic acid using a homogeneous ruthenium catalyst, in aqueous solution and in dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO), without any additives. In water, at 40 °C, 0.2 M formic acid can be obtained under 200 bar, however, in DMSO the same catalyst affords 1.9 M formic acid. In both solvents the catalysts can be reused multiple times without a decrease in activity. Worldwide demand for formic acid continues to grow, especially in the context of a renewable energy hydrogen carrier, and its production from CO2 without base, via the direct catalytic carbon dioxide hydrogenation, is considerably more sustainable than the existing routes.

No abstract

In water, spin-lattice relaxation times (T(1)) and calibration curves for chemical shifts have been determined for the (13)C and the (1)H(C) atoms in HCOOH, HCOONa, CO(2), Na(2)CO(3) and NaHCO(3) by NMR spectroscopy. These data facilitate kinetic and mechanistic studies for H(2) storage/delivery in the carbon dioxide-formic acid systems under H(2) and CO(2) pressures.

No abstract

Hydrogen Storage: Beyond Conventional Methods -[410 refs.]. -(DALEBROOK, A. F.; GAN, W.; GRASEMANN, M.; MORET, S.; LAURENCZY*, G.; Chem. Commun. (Cambridge) 49 (2013) 78, 8735-8751, http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c3cc43836h ; Inst. Sci. Ing. Chim., Ec. Polytech. Fed. Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switz.; Eng.) -Schramke 48-258