CO₂ Directly Into Formic Acid: KIST Develops Integrated Process That Halves Production Costs

Add to Google Preferred Sources A joint research team from the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) and Kookmin University has developed an integrated process that electrochemically converts captured carbon dioxide directly into high-purity formic acid without separate separation, purification, or compression steps. The team fed a triethylamine capture solution directly into a reactor and applied a tin-copper catalyst, converting 94% of the CO₂ into formate and successfully obtaining formic acid with up to 98% purity by weight. Economic analysis shows production costs of approximately $410 per ton—roughly half the current market price—while greenhouse gas impact is about 31% lower than conventional processes. The team is currently conducting pilot-scale projects and aims for commercialization verification within three to five years. The research was selected as the August cover paper for the international journal *Joule*.