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This work explores how varying ammonium bicarbonate concentration affects the performance of a ruthenium-based catalyst in producing formic acid.

May 31, 2026Journal of the Japan Institute of Energy0 citationsOpen Access

Influence of Process Conditions on Activity of Ruthenium-encapsulated Porous Hollow Silica Sphere Catalyst for Hydrogenation of Ammonium Bicarbonate into Formic Acid

TUTetsuo UmegakiNihon University SDShuta DOHINihon University STSyunsuke TAKIZAWANihon University

Key Points

This work explores how varying ammonium bicarbonate concentration affects the performance of a ruthenium-based catalyst in producing formic acid.
Examined the influence of ammonium bicarbonate concentration on catalyst activity.
Analyzed reaction solutions using total carbon dioxide meter and HPLC.
Identified changes in carbonate species relative to ammonium bicarbonate saturation.
Formic acid yield increased with saturated ammonium bicarbonate concentration.
Before and after the reaction, bicarbonate ion remained predominant in the solution.
Additional carbonate ion appeared in the solution beyond saturated conditions, likely due to pH variations.

Abstract

This work investigated influence of concentration of ammonium bicarbonate on the activity of ruthenium-encapsulated porous hollow silica sphere catalyst for hydrogenation of ammonium bicarbonate into formic acid. From the analyses of the reaction solution by total carbon dioxide meter and HPLC, almost all the carbonate species in the reaction solution before and after the reaction is bicarbonate ion up to saturated concentration of ammonium bicarbonate, while certain amount of carbonate ion existed in the solution over saturated concentration probably because of the solution pH values. The tendency reflected formic acid yield, and the highest yield of formic acid was obtained in the solution with saturated ammonium bicarbonate solution.

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