PRODUCTION OF FORMIC ACID

摘要

PURPOSE:To provide a method for producing formic acid where photoelectric current is generated without using other energy, such as electrical energy to make it an energy source. CONSTITUTION:A semiconductor electrode 1 is horizontally immersed in hydroxide salt solution of an anolyte tank 2. On the other hand, a gas diffusion electrode 4 where a Pd-Ru alloy catalyst is carried on a reaction layer is immersed in hydrogen carbonate solution 7 of a catholyte tank 6 through a salt bridge on the reaction layer side. Carbon dioxide is caused to flow on the rear side of the gas diffusion electrode 4 and simultaneously the semiconductor electrode 1 and the gas diffusion electrode 4 are short-circuited. The semiconductor electrode 1 in the hydroxide salt solution is irradiated with light to generate photoelectric current and the carbon dioxide is reduced to form formic acid on the gas diffusion electrode 4 by the photoelectric current.