Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 6, 2026
10:57
Synthesis and Performance Characterizations of Transition Metal Single Atom Catalyst for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction
Published on: April 10, 2018
Formate and formic acid reduction to methane with a Ru/Al2O3 catalyst
Zohaib Suhail1, Ryuichi Fukuda1, Alain Goeppert1
1Loker Hydrocarbon Research Institute and Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California, 837 Bloom Walk, Los Angeles, CA, 90089-1661, USA. gprakash@usc.edu.
Chemical Communications (Cambridge, England)
|July 20, 2026
Summary
Thermochemical conversion of formate and formic acid to methane was achieved with 100% conversion using a ruthenium catalyst. This method shows higher methane productivity than carbonate and bicarbonate systems.
Area of Science:
- Catalysis
- Thermochemical Conversion
- Green Chemistry
Background:
- The thermochemical conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2) derivatives to methane is crucial for sustainable energy.
- The conversion of formate and formic acid, key CO2 derivatives, to methane remains understudied.
- Developing efficient catalysts is essential for advancing CO2 utilization technologies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the thermochemical conversion of formate and formic acid to methane.
- To evaluate the performance of a heterogeneous 5%Ru/Al2O3 catalyst for this reaction.
- To compare the methane productivity with other CO2 derivatives like carbonates and bicarbonates.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a heterogeneous catalyst: 5%Ru/Al2O3.
- Conducted thermochemical reduction of formate and formic acid.
- Measured methane (CH4) production and catalyst productivity.
Main Results:
- Achieved 100% conversion for both formate and formic acid to methane.
- Demonstrated high methane productivity exceeding 2000 gCH4 kgcat-1 h-1.
- Exhibited superior productivity compared to carbonate and bicarbonate systems.
Conclusions:
- The 5%Ru/Al2O3 catalyst is highly effective for the thermochemical conversion of formate and formic acid to methane.
- This process offers a promising route for efficient CO2 derivative utilization.
- The developed method presents a significant advancement over existing systems for methane production from CO2 derivatives.
Related Concept Videos
02:24Reduction of Alkynes to cis-Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation
Introduction
Like alkenes, alkynes can be reduced to alkanes in the presence of transition metal catalysts such as Pt, Pd, or Ni. The reaction involves two sequential syn additions of hydrogen via a cis-alkene intermediate.
Like alkenes, alkynes can be reduced to alkanes in the presence of transition metal catalysts such as Pt, Pd, or Ni. The reaction involves two sequential syn additions of hydrogen via a cis-alkene intermediate.
02:36Oxymercuration-Reduction of Alkenes
Oxymercuration–reduction of alkenes is one of the major reactions converting alkenes to alcohols. It involves the hydration of alkenes with mercuric acetate in a mixture of tetrahydrofuran and water, forming an organomercury adduct. This is followed by a demercuration step in which the adduct is reduced to an alcohol using sodium borohydride.
02:13Reduction of Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation
Alkenes undergo reduction by the addition of molecular hydrogen to give alkanes. Because the process generally occurs in the presence of a transition-metal catalyst, the reaction is called catalytic hydrogenation.
Metals like palladium, platinum, and nickel are commonly used in their solid forms — fine powder on an inert surface. As these catalysts remain insoluble in the reaction mixture, they are referred to as heterogeneous catalysts.
The hydrogenation process takes place on the surface of...
Metals like palladium, platinum, and nickel are commonly used in their solid forms — fine powder on an inert surface. As these catalysts remain insoluble in the reaction mixture, they are referred to as heterogeneous catalysts.
The hydrogenation process takes place on the surface of...
02:17Reduction of Alkenes: Asymmetric Catalytic Hydrogenation
Catalytic hydrogenation of alkenes is a transition-metal catalyzed reduction of the double bond using molecular hydrogen to give alkanes. The mode of hydrogen addition follows syn stereochemistry.
The metal catalyst used can be either heterogeneous or homogeneous. When hydrogenation of an alkene generates a chiral center, a pair of enantiomeric products is expected to form. However, an enantiomeric excess of one of the products can be facilitated using an enantioselective reaction or an...
The metal catalyst used can be either heterogeneous or homogeneous. When hydrogenation of an alkene generates a chiral center, a pair of enantiomeric products is expected to form. However, an enantiomeric excess of one of the products can be facilitated using an enantioselective reaction or an...
01:09Aldehydes and Ketones to Alkanes: Wolff–Kishner Reduction
Wolff–Kishner reduction involves converting aldehydes and ketones to alkanes using hydrazine and a base. The reaction converts a carbonyl group to a methylene group. The method was independently discovered by N. Kishner in 1911 and L. Wolff in 1912. The reduction is carried out in high-boiling solvents such as ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol because heat is required to deprotonate the N–H proton in one of the reaction steps.
01:19Acid Halides to Alcohols: LiAlH4 Reduction
Acid halides are reduced to alcohols in the presence of a strong reducing agent like lithium aluminum hydride.
The mechanism proceeds in three steps. First, the nucleophilic hydride ion attacks the carbonyl carbon of the acid halide to form a tetrahedral intermediate. Next, the carbonyl group is re-formed, and the halide ion departs as a leaving group, generating an aldehyde. A second nucleophilic attack by the hydride yields an alkoxide ion, which, upon protonation, gives a primary alcohol as...
The mechanism proceeds in three steps. First, the nucleophilic hydride ion attacks the carbonyl carbon of the acid halide to form a tetrahedral intermediate. Next, the carbonyl group is re-formed, and the halide ion departs as a leaving group, generating an aldehyde. A second nucleophilic attack by the hydride yields an alkoxide ion, which, upon protonation, gives a primary alcohol as...