Virginia Commonwealth University pioneers use of formic acid to absorb CO2

CCUS technology is being refined all the time. A variety of substances have been utilised to absorb carbon dioxide. Most common is sodium bicarbonate (common street name baking soda).

Now Virginia Commonwealth University is pioneering the use of formic acid as an effective catalyst for thermochemically converting carbon dioxide. Formic acid has many advantages—it ia low-toxic liquid that can be easily transported and stored at room temperature.

Shiv N. Khanna, Ph.D., chair and Professor in the Department of Physics in the College of Humanities and Sciences at VCU explained, “Catalytic conversion of CO2 into useful chemicals, e.g., formic acid (HCOOH), serves as a cost-efficient alternative strategy for mitigating the adverse effect of CO2.”