Stoichiometric reduction of carbon dioxide to HCHO and HCOOH by K[RuIII(EDTA-H)Cl]·2H2O

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0304-5102(89)80065-3

The stoichiometric reduction of carbon dioxide by soluble K[Ru^III-(EDTA-H)Cl]·2H₂O complex at CO₂ pressures in the range of 5 - 70 atm and temperatures 40 - 80°C gave formic acid and formaldehyde as the reaction products. The rates of formation of formic acid and formaldehyde were found to have first order dependence with respect to catalyst and dissolved CO₂ concentrations. Activation energies of 3.5 kcal mol^-1 for formaldehyde and 4.8 kcal mol^-1 for formic acid were obtained by studying the temperature dependence of the rates of formation of both the products. Based on the products formed and kinetic observations, a possible mechanism is proposed.