Electrochemical reactor system and method

An electrochemical reactor system adapted for producing a chemical product from a reactant, comprising:

• an electrochemical cell having (a) a carbon dioxide inlet, and (b) a first compartment and a second compartment separated by a membrane;
• a production cell in communication with the first compartment;
• a cathode held in one of the first compartment and the second compartment;
• an anode held in the other of the first compartment and the second compartment;
• a voltage source adapted for applying a voltage potential across the cathode and the anode;
• a product production agent held in the production cell;
• a source of the reactant in communication with the electrochemical cell;
• a first circuit adapted for circulating a first electrolyte from a first electrolyte supply through the first compartment and then through the production cell and then back to the first electrolyte supply wherein the first electrolyte includes a charge carrier compound;
• and
• a second circuit adapted for circulating a second electrolyte from a second electrolyte supply through the second compartment and back to the second electrolyte supply;
• wherein (a) the charge carrier compound is reduced from a neutral form to an active redox form and protons are generated in the electrochemical cell (b) the redox form of the charge carrier compound is circulated to the production cell where charge is transferred to the product production agent to convert the reactant to the chemical product and the redox form of the charge carrier compound is converted back to the neutral form, (c) the neutral form of the charge carrier compound is returned to the first electrolyte supply and (d) the reactant/product/product production agent combinations consist of carbon dioxide/formic acid/carbon dioxide reductase, and carbon dioxide/formate/formate dehydrogenase.