Flow reactors for the electrochemical CO2 reduction to formate / formic acid and beyond

Electrochemistry is rapidly emerging as a key technology for Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU), offering a sustainable route to transform CO₂ emissions into a valuable resource for the chemical and materials industry. Many valuable chemicals or fuels can be produced from electrochemistry: CO, methane, methanol, formic acid, ethane, ethanol, ethylene, oxalic acid and other hydrocarbons. The development of electrocatalytic CO₂ reduction is progressing, with much interest in commodity chemicals such as ethylene to break down barriers to market entry. This innovative approach promises not only to mitigate climate change but also to reduce industries’ dependence on fossil resources, driving a significant shift towards global sustainability goals. The WaterProof project invites researchers and industry stakeholders to an insightful webinar. This event will showcase the latest advancements in electrochemical CO₂ conversion and their potential to transform entire industries by making chemical production more sustainable. The webinar will feature presentations from leading experts Patrick Löb (Fraunhofer IMM), Brian Rawls (Avantium/Volta) and Danny Hellebusch (Twelve) This is Patrick Löb`s presentation titled "Flow reactors for the electrochemical CO2 reduction to formate / formic acid and beyond". The WaterProof project aims at developing an electrochemical process that converts CO₂ emission captured from consumer waste incineration and wastewater treatment facilities into formic acid to be used in valuable green consumer products such as cleaning detergents and the tanning of fish leather apparel. Additional products of the electrochemical process are peroxides that can be applied to remove pharmaceuticals and pesticides from wastewater. Furthermore, formic acid is used for the generation of acidic deep eutectic solvents (ADES), that can be applied to recover precious metals from wastewater sludge and incineration ashes. As the electrochemical process uses renewable energy, it contributes to a clean water cycle with zero-emission.WaterProof enables the closing of the waste(water) carbon loop and the shift from fossil to renewable carbon sources. It hereby supports the transition towards a climate-neutral Europe and an effective and truly circular economy.