A novel Carbon Capture and Utilisation model has been validated outside the laboratory through the development of a simultaneous capture-utilisation process, demonstrating its environmental impact and economic viability at pilot scale.

It is well-established that the significant amounts of carbon dioxide introduced into the atmosphere by human activities (36.8 billion tonnes annually, according to the Global Carbon Budget 2023) are the primary contributors to the increase in the Earth’s average temperature, directly influencing climate change.

The 2015 Paris Agreement set a limit on global temperature rise to below 2°C, «ideally under 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels». However, the most recent United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP28, held in Dubai from 30 November to 13 December 2023, definitively set the maximum limit at 1.5°C, alongside a 43% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and a 60% reduction by 2035.

The challenge extends beyond merely reducing emissions by curbing the use of fossil fuels (such as coal, oil, and synthetic gases like chlorofluorocarbons) for energy, heating, transportation, and industrial raw materials. To prevent the dangerous impacts of ongoing climate change, efforts must focus on not only mitigating new carbon dioxide emissions but also removing and repurposing the CO2 already present in the atmosphere.


A Korean research project on converting carbon dioxide into formic acid has developed a methodology that reduces the energy consumption of the CO2 transformation process, the risk of decomposition of the resulting compound, and production costs.
The unique aspect of the capture-utilisation-production process lies in its operational testing at a pilot plant producing 10 kg of formic acid per day, with an 82% CO2 conversion rate.
Future scenarios envisage the application of formic acid as an alternative energy source, leveraging its role as a hydrogen carrier. In this scenario, the model of converting carbon dioxide into formic acid via hydrogenation would be a strategic advantage.

How carbon dioxide capture occurs

Capturing CO2 from the atmosphere involves extracting it from various applications and flow conditions. A natural process of capture occurs—albeit slowly—through plants and forests, water, and soil, which are capable of absorbing global carbon dioxide.

Over the past decade, numerous technological approaches have been developed for this purpose, each with its own methodology. Among the most recent is the Direct Air Capture (DAC) method, developed by a team from Tokyo Metropolitan University and described in “Direct Air Capture of CO2 Using a Liquid Amine–Solid Carbamic Acid Phase-Separation System Using Diamines Bearing an Aminocyclohexyl Group” (ACS Environmental Science & Technology Journal, 2022). This method captures carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere through a system that draws in air and channels it into an environment equipped with a filter that captures CO2 molecules and stores them for reuse in producing environmentally sustainable products. Meanwhile, the CO2-free air is released back into the atmosphere.

Another recent technology, developed in December 2023 by researchers from the Polytechnic University of Zurich and Sorbonne University in Paris, involves the use of molecules that, when exposed to light, release protons «capable of altering the pH of certain compounds. This shows promising results for a wide variety of applications, including carbon dioxide capture» [source: “Solvation-Tuned Photoacid as a Stable Light-Driven pH Switch for CO2 Capture and Release” – Chemistry of Materials Journal, December 2023].

The differences between “Carbon capture and storage” and “Carbon capture and utilisation”

In addition to capturing carbon dioxide and releasing CO2-free air back into the atmosphere, there is also the process of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS). This involves the sequestration of carbon dioxide for storage in underground reservoirs (at depths between 1 and 3 kilometres) or beneath the seabed (as in Norway), with the goal of keeping it out of the atmosphere before it is emitted. Thus, the capture occurs at the source, at the exhaust systems of power plants or various industrial processes [source: “Carbon Capture and Storage” – ScienceDirect].

Among the most common techniques to mitigate CO2 emissions from human activities, CCS is currently in the early stages of commercialisation. According to Bloomberg New Energy Finance, its methodologies will continue to evolve and penetrate more markets, with the sector expected to reach a global capacity of 420 million tonnes of CO2 sequestered and stored annually by 2035.

On a completely different front is Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU), which involves not only the sequestration of carbon dioxide but also its transformation into ecosystem-compatible products, creating new businesses and economic opportunities.

An example of CCU is the use of CO2 in a catalytic process within a reactor to convert hydrogen into green methanol. It can also be used to produce carbonated beverages, dry ice, and solid carbonates for construction materials.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA)«approximately 210 million tonnes of carbon dioxide are used annually, primarily in the fertiliser industry for urea production (about 130 million tonnes) and for enhanced oil recovery (about 80 million tonnes)».

Carbon Capture and Utilisation: the key pole of pilot plants

A study by the Institute of Science and Technology in Seoul and Korea University’s Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering [“Accelerating the Net-Zero Economy with CO2-Hydrogenated Formic Acid Production: Process Development and Pilot Plant Demonstration” – Joule, March 2024] highlights the complexity of carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) compared to carbon capture and storage. This complexity stems from the intricate CO2 conversion procedures and the high production costs of the end products.

They note that «few CCU projects are viable because they need to be both economically sustainable and environmentally friendly». Most face issues like poor reactor performance for CO2 conversion and high energy consumption, which leads to increased emissions. A vicious cycle.

In this challenging context, the Korean team explains that pilot plants are crucial for two reasons: they help identify operational flaws in the CCU system (such as poor reactor performance) and their impact on the final product; they also support continuous system improvements, speeding up commercialisation.

Formic acid from CO2: process development

The research team from IST Seoul and Korea University has focused on converting carbon dioxide into formic acid through hydrogenation.

Formic acid (also known as methanoic acid) is a naturally occurring compound that degrades easily in water. It can be found in pine needles and some fruits, like grapes. It’s used in leather and textile processing, animal feed preservation, as a cleaning agent and descaler, in synthetic rubber production, and more. The goal of the scientific community is to use formic acid as an alternative energy source on a large scale.

«Formic acid has a significant market, consuming about one million tonnes annually, expected to grow due to its potential as a hydrogen carrier. It’s more efficient to produce than other CCU-based chemicals since it can be made from a single CO2 molecule», the authors note.

For CO2 to formic acid conversion, the team used 1-methylpyrrolidine, which offers the highest CO2 conversion rate among various compounds. Another reason for choosing 1-methylpyrrolidine is its ability to optimise reactor temperature and pressure. The reactor, containing a ruthenium (Ru)-based catalyst, «allowed the CO2 conversion rate to exceed twice the current 38% level».

The team also developed a simultaneous capture-utilisation process that transforms the sequestered CO2 within the 1-methylpyrrolidine without separating it, reducing energy consumption and the risk of formic acid decomposition.

«With this method, we reduced the production cost of formic acid from around $790 per tonne to $490 per tonne, while also lowering emissions compared to conventional methods», the researchers highlight.

Formic acid from CO2: commercialisation potential

This isn’t the first attempt to convert carbon dioxide into formic acid. Since the Paris Climate Agreement in 2015, many studies worldwide have explored this, using various techniques but mainly in small-scale labs.

On 30th January 2024, an article on the Korean study was published online, later appearing in the March 2024 print edition of “Joule”. A few days later, on 7th February 2024, the University of Auckland released another study on formic acid from CO2, notable for using electrochemical reduction in an acidic environment with end-of-life lead-acid batteries.

Researchers at the Institute of Science and Technology in Seoul and Korea University are testing the commercial potential of their capture-conversion-production process. They have set up a pilot plantproducing 10 kg of formic acid daily with an 82% CO2 conversion rate. They aim to scale this up to 100 kg per day by 2025.

After verifying the entire process, the team hopes to commercialise their CO2 hydrogenation process by 2030. Data from the pilot plant have been used in a process simulator to create a validated model. Their analysis shows that their «process reduces the global warming impact by 42% and cuts production costs by 37% compared to traditional methods».

Glimpses of Futures

The study serves as a model for developing a cost-effective and energy-efficient solution for using captured carbon dioxide. It shows that this process can be economically viable and environmentally beneficial. Now, with the aim of anticipating possible future scenarios, let’s try to hypothesize – through STEPS matrix – the impacts that this type of solution could have from a social, technological, economic, political and sustainability profile.

S – SOCIAL: no level of greenhouse gases or temperature rise above pre-industrial levels is safe for health. The World Health Organization notes that over twenty years, global mortality rates from excessive heat among those over sixty-five have risen by 70%. This risk, along with diseases linked to rising emissions, is higher in areas most vulnerable to climate change. This is the social cost of global warming. Future use of Carbon Capture and Utilization systems, like the one converting CO2 into formic acid and testing its feasibility in a pilot plant, could be key in policies aimed at improving global health and well-being.

T – TECHNOLOGICAL: in the future, advancing the hydrogenation process of CO2 for formic acid production will require to improve the performance of chemical reactions during conversion and the simultaneous capture-utilization operations. The authors emphasize the importance of «testing the entire system on a larger scale to address practical obstacles more precisely, thereby producing more reliable results for economic and environmental evaluations. This aims to provide evidence for further development and greater commercialization potential of the process». Additionally, as observed in the conversion of hydrogen and carbon dioxide to green methanol, the transition from carbon dioxide to formic acid might increasingly incorporate artificial intelligence techniques. For example, predictive analysis could be used to monitor potential increases in reactor temperature and pressure during the transformation process.

E – ECONOMIC: the capture-conversion-production system developed by the Korean team, which focuses on recycling carbon dioxide into a non-harmful substance for the Earth’s atmosphere, is slated for commercialization by 2030 following an evaluation of its processes and profitability. Assuming positive outcomes from these evaluations and considering the size of the global formic acid market (valued at $1.86 billion in 2022, projected to grow to $3.85 billion by 2030), along with optimistic forecasts from the Global CCS Institute for the carbon capture and utilization technology market (estimated at $18 billion by 2030), increased investment in this sector is anticipated. This includes funding for large-scale projects and venture capital for innovative startups. However, ING Think analysts urge caution, reminding us that CCU projects take years to develop and often experience planning delays. They cite the example of the United States, where «the introduction of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in August 2022 generated significant excitement for CCS and CCU technologies. Yet, almost two years later, enthusiasm has waned because many essential details have yet to be finalized by understaffed government agencies. Consequently, application processes are lengthy and cumbersome, making project owners hesitant to make final investment decisions».

P – POLITICAL: within the European Union, the Carbon Capture and Utilization model presented by the authors, supported by a pilot plant to test its economic viability, might align with the framework of the Net-zero Industry Act (which reached provisional agreement on 6 February 2024). This Act aims to promote the development of technologies that support achieving climate neutrality by 2050, in line with the European Green Deal. A recent study described in “Carbon capture and utilization under EU law: impermanent storage of CO2 in products and pre-combustion carbon capture” (Journal of World Energy Law & Business, 9 May 2024) underscores the EU’s need for innovative approaches to recycling and converting carbon dioxide, «aiming to realize the full potential of Carbon Capture and Utilization in promoting a sustainable future for Europe». The impact of the illustrated CCU system could be particularly significant for historically energy-intensive sectors, such as cement, iron and steel, and energy production, where CO2 capture and storage, as well as capture and utilization processes, are expected to become increasingly prevalent in the coming years, according to Bloomberg New Agency Finance.

S – SUSTAINABILITY: alongside policies to phase out fossil fuels and adopt renewable energy, intensifying the use of Carbon Capture and Utilization systems, such as the one proposed by IST of Seoul and Korea University, will enhance the likelihood of achieving the global net-zero emissions goal within the next two decades and promote a circular carbon economy. Formic acid applications, particularly as an alternative energy source, are of significant interest to the research community, focusing on its use as a hydrogen carrier. In March 2018, the Lausanne Polytechnic Institute developed the first power supply capable of producing electricity via a fuel cell using hydrogen extracted from formic acid. Since then, large-scale solutions have been under study, aiming to overcome the challenges of reactor costs and energy consumption. If validated by pilot plant tests, the described model of converting carbon dioxide to formic acid via hydrogenation could pave the way for new CCU research avenues focused on hydrogen.

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