Exploring the Viability of Green Formic Acid as H2 Carrier

To favour the implementation of hydrogen energy, H2 carriers are regarded as a reliable alternative for hydrogen transport. Common hydrogen carriers include liquid organic compounds (as toluene, dibenzyltoluene or N-ethylcarbazole), ammonia, methanol, formic acid and chemical hydrides. These substan...

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Main Authors: Elvira Spatolisano, Federica Restelli, Sofia Leoni, Laura A. Pellegrini
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AIDIC Servizi S.r.l. 2025-07-01
Series:Chemical Engineering Transactions
Online Access:https://www.cetjournal.it/index.php/cet/article/view/15339
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author Elvira Spatolisano
Federica Restelli
Sofia Leoni
Laura A. Pellegrini
author_facet Elvira Spatolisano
Federica Restelli
Sofia Leoni
Laura A. Pellegrini
author_sort Elvira Spatolisano
collection DOAJ
description To favour the implementation of hydrogen energy, H2 carriers are regarded as a reliable alternative for hydrogen transport. Common hydrogen carriers include liquid organic compounds (as toluene, dibenzyltoluene or N-ethylcarbazole), ammonia, methanol, formic acid and chemical hydrides. These substances can release H2 upon demand through dehydrogenation or electrochemical reactions, offering a flexible way to integrate hydrogen into energy infrastructure. Among them, formic acid (HCOOH) is an attractive candidate due to its hydrogen content (4.4 wt.%) and straightforward dehydrogenation process. To explore the viability of green formic acid as H2 carrier, this work analyses all its possible production pathways from renewable energy, with a focus on the synthesis from captured CO2 as raw material. Advantages and disadvantages of this new process are presented, assessing its potential by means of the equivalent hydrogen methodology. The H2 delivery performance of formic acid, strictly related to its synthesis stage, is analyzed and then compared to other carriers (liquefied H2, ammonia, toluene, dibenzyltoluene), to discuss its practicality for industrial-scale implementation.
format Article
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institution Kabale University
issn 2283-9216
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher AIDIC Servizi S.r.l.
record_format Article
series Chemical Engineering Transactions
spelling doaj-art-e1312f535f424b57b50bcbcfe3a7cb462025-08-20T03:58:37ZengAIDIC Servizi S.r.l.Chemical Engineering Transactions2283-92162025-07-01117Exploring the Viability of Green Formic Acid as H2 CarrierElvira SpatolisanoFederica RestelliSofia LeoniLaura A. PellegriniTo favour the implementation of hydrogen energy, H2 carriers are regarded as a reliable alternative for hydrogen transport. Common hydrogen carriers include liquid organic compounds (as toluene, dibenzyltoluene or N-ethylcarbazole), ammonia, methanol, formic acid and chemical hydrides. These substances can release H2 upon demand through dehydrogenation or electrochemical reactions, offering a flexible way to integrate hydrogen into energy infrastructure. Among them, formic acid (HCOOH) is an attractive candidate due to its hydrogen content (4.4 wt.%) and straightforward dehydrogenation process. To explore the viability of green formic acid as H2 carrier, this work analyses all its possible production pathways from renewable energy, with a focus on the synthesis from captured CO2 as raw material. Advantages and disadvantages of this new process are presented, assessing its potential by means of the equivalent hydrogen methodology. The H2 delivery performance of formic acid, strictly related to its synthesis stage, is analyzed and then compared to other carriers (liquefied H2, ammonia, toluene, dibenzyltoluene), to discuss its practicality for industrial-scale implementation.https://www.cetjournal.it/index.php/cet/article/view/15339
spellingShingle Elvira Spatolisano
Federica Restelli
Sofia Leoni
Laura A. Pellegrini
Exploring the Viability of Green Formic Acid as H2 Carrier
Chemical Engineering Transactions
title Exploring the Viability of Green Formic Acid as H2 Carrier
title_full Exploring the Viability of Green Formic Acid as H2 Carrier
title_fullStr Exploring the Viability of Green Formic Acid as H2 Carrier
title_full_unstemmed Exploring the Viability of Green Formic Acid as H2 Carrier
title_short Exploring the Viability of Green Formic Acid as H2 Carrier
title_sort exploring the viability of green formic acid as h2 carrier
url https://www.cetjournal.it/index.php/cet/article/view/15339
work_keys_str_mv AT elviraspatolisano exploringtheviabilityofgreenformicacidash2carrier
AT federicarestelli exploringtheviabilityofgreenformicacidash2carrier
AT sofialeoni exploringtheviabilityofgreenformicacidash2carrier
AT lauraapellegrini exploringtheviabilityofgreenformicacidash2carrier