Systems and methods for generating a carboxylic acid from a co2 gas stream

A system for generating a carboxylic acid from carbon dioxide (CO2) comprising:

• a first reactor fluidly coupled to a gas source comprising the CO2, and configured to combine the CO2 with a base (MOH) to generate bicarbonate (MHCO3) and, optionally, an off gas;
• a second reactor disposed downstream from and fluidly coupled to the first reactor and comprising a catalyst, wherein the second reactor is configured to receive the bicarbonate and hydrogen gas and to produce formate (HCOOM), and wherein a temperature and hydrogen pressure within the second reactor is in the range of from 15° C. to 210° C. and from 0.001 bara to 100 bara, respectively;
• and
• a chloro-alkali electrolysis reactor disposed downstream from and fluidly coupled to the first reactor and the second reactor, wherein the chloro-alkali electrolysis reactor is configured to produce at least a portion of the base, a hydrogen gas and chlorine (Cl2), and to provide at least a portion of the base to the first reactor.

A method for generating a carboxylic acid from carbon dioxide (CO2), comprising:

• (a) mixing a gas stream comprising the CO2 with a base (MOH) to produce bicarbonate (MHCO3);
• (b) contacting the MHCO3 with hydrogen gas in the presence of the catalyst to produce formate (HCOOM);
• and
• (c) electrolysing an aqueous solution of a metal halide (MCl) to produce at least a portion of the MOH used in step (a), wherein the carboxylic acid is formic acid (HCOOH).