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The production of oxalic acid from CO2 and H2O

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Abstract

Oxalic acid has been prepared on a preparative scale in an undivided cell with sacrificial anodes and an aprotic electrolyte. Optimum current efficiencies (>90%) have been obtained in cells with zinc anodes, stainless steel cathodes and acetonitrile with tetrabutylammonium perchlorate as the electrolyte. Micro-pilot experiments revealed that a continuous electrochemical cell can be set up and that the reaction product can be removed by filtration. A complete process is designed by a combination of the oxalic acid production with a zinc electrolysis. No unwanted by-products appear, which is recently of increasing importance. Economic consideration shows that the process may become interesting in the future.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dechema-Institut, Frankfurt, Germany

    J. Fischer, Th. Lehmann & E. Heitz

Authors
  1. J. Fischer
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  2. Th. Lehmann
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  3. E. Heitz
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Fischer, J., Lehmann, T. & Heitz, E. The production of oxalic acid from CO2 and H2O. J Appl Electrochem 11, 743–750 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00615179

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