Process for the Catalytic Production of Formic Acid

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This patent describes a novel catalytic process for producing formic acid from renewable organic materials such as sugars (e.g., glucose, xylose), polysaccharides (e.g., cellulose, hemicellulose), glycosides, and their derivatives. The method uses a polyoxometallate ion catalyst in a liquid solution at temperatures below 120°C. The process enables efficient conversion of these substrates into formic acid, with the catalyst being regenerable for continuous operation. This approach avoids the use of fossil fuel-derived starting materials and operates under milder and more sustainable conditions compared to traditional methods.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Production of formic acid from agricultural and forestry residues, such as wood chips, sawdust, and wastepaper.
• Green chemistry manufacturing of formic acid using sugars and starches from crops and food processing byproducts.
• On-site formic acid generation in the pulp and paper industry, utilizing waste cellulose and hemicellulose.
• Bio-refinery integration for valorization of lignocellulosic biomass into valuable chemicals like formic acid.
• Reduction of industrial dependency on fossil fuels for feedstock in formic acid production.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Enables sustainable and eco-friendly formic acid production from renewable biomass rather than fossil-derived materials.
• Operates at relatively low temperatures (below 120°C), reducing energy input and equipment costs.
• High selectivity toward formic acid, minimizing waste and by-products.
• Catalyst can be regenerated and reused, supporting continuous or large-scale industrial processing.
• Facilitates the use of inexpensive and abundant raw materials, including waste and non-food biomass, improving overall process economics and resource efficiency.

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Patent Abstract

The invention relates to a method for catalytically producing formic acid. A polyoxometallate ion, which is used as a catalyst, of the general formula [PMoxVyO40] 5- is brought into contact with an alpha-hydroxyaldehyde, an alpha-hydroxycarboxylic acid, a carbohydrate, or a glycoside in a liquid solution at a temperature below 120 °C, wherein 6