| abstract |
The invention relates to catalytically producing formic acid and regenerating the catalyst used in the process. A vanadyl ion, vandate ion, or polyoxometallate ion, which is used as the catalyst, of the general formula [PMoxVyO40]n− is brought into contact with an alpha hydroxyl aldehyde, an alpha hydroxy carboxylic acid, a carbohydrate, a glycoside, or a polymer, which contains a carbon chain and which comprises at least two OH groups bonded as substituents to the carbon chain as a substituent in a repeating manner and/or an O, N, or S atom contained in the carbon chain in a repeating manner, in a liquid solution (12) in a vessel (10) at a temperature above 70° C. and below 160° C., wherein 6≤x≤11, 1≤y≤6, 3<n<10, and x+y=12, where n, x, and y is each a whole number. |