| abstract |
According to the present invention, there is provided an environmentally advantageous method of producing methanol from various sources of carbon dioxide, including flue gas from a power plant that burns fossil fuels, industrial exhaust gas or the atmosphere itself. Formic acid and some formaldehyde and methanol mixtures are produced by converting carbon dioxide by electrochemical reduction. Formic acid can be used as a source of hydrogen to produce not only carbon but also methanol, dimethyl ether and other products. |