CO2 electrochemical reduction to formic acid: An overview of process sustainability

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• The CO 2 ECR cell configuration and catalysts performance have been reviewed. • The economics and the environmental impact of the CO 2 ECR process have been discussed. • The integration of renewable resources with CO 2 ECR system has been presented. • Challenges and research gaps have been highlighted. CO 2 Electrochemical Reduction (CO 2 ECR) is a promising technology that converts CO 2 into value-added products, including formic acid, ethanol, and methanol, by applying external voltage. This technology is not only considered a CO 2 mitigation process but a process that produces value-added chemicals reducing dependence on fossil fuels. This review assesses the sustainability of the CO 2 ECR process by focusing on life cycle assessment and techno-economic evaluation studies. Recent advances in catalysts and cell structures for CO 2 ECR are also discussed from a sustainability perspective. Furthermore, the integration of CO 2 ECR with renewable resources as a power source is highlighted. The review aims to determine the sustainability of CO 2 conversion for formic acid production and to provide guidelines for future advancements. Research gaps and challenges are also provided.