Bio-based Formic Acid

Formic acid (HCOOH) is a simple, yet highly useful chemical widely employed in textile processing, leather tanning, rubber coagulation, de-icing, preservatives, and as a hydrogen carrier. Traditionally produced from methanol and carbon monoxide, formic acid can now be derived through bio-based pathways, including biomass oxidation, fermentation, and CO₂ hydrogenation, offering a sustainable route to a C1 chemical with growing relevance in green hydrogen and low-carbon materials.

How Bio-based Formic Acid is Produced

Key Pathways:

1. CO₂ Hydrogenation
• CO₂ is reacted with green hydrogen over Ru, Ir, or Mn-based homogeneous or heterogeneous catalysts to produce formic acid directly.
• Represents a carbon-negative route, especially when electrolytic hydrogen is used.
2. Biomass Oxidation
• C6 sugars (e.g., glucose) or lignocellulosic hydrolysates are oxidized with metal catalysts (e.g., vanadium, molybdenum) to yield formic acid and other C1–C3 acids.
3. Microbial Fermentation
• Specific bacterial strains (Escherichia coli, Bacillus, Clostridium) can produce formate from glucose under anaerobic or engineered conditions.
• Still at low titers and under lab-scale development

Feedstocks: Captured CO₂, green hydrogen, glucose, hemicellulose-rich biomass, organic waste.

Case Study: BASF (Germany) – CO₂ to Formic Acid Pilot

Highlights:

• BASF piloted CO₂ hydrogenation to formic acid using proprietary catalysts.
• Targeted for use in hydrogen storage systems and de-icing formulations.
• Process aligns with carbon capture and utilization (CCU) initiatives.

Timeline & Outcome:

• 2018: CO₂-based formic acid concept validated at lab scale.
• 2020–2022: Demonstration of integrated CCU system in Ludwigshafen.
• 2023–2024: Exploration of commercial partnerships and H₂ carrier applications.

Global Startups Working on Bio-based Formic Acid

• Dioxycle (France) – Electrochemical CO₂ reduction to formic acid using renewable energy.
• Twelve (USA) – Converts CO₂ into formate/formic acid and fuels, partnering with EV and packaging sectors.
• Formic Bio (USA) – Synthetic biology approach to convert sugars and waste carbon into C1 organics like formic acid.
• Electrochaea (Germany) – Power-to-chemical platforms that may incorporate formic acid synthesis from CO₂.

India’s Position

• India currently does not produce bio-formic acid at industrial scale.
• Institutions like IIT Bombay, IISc Bangalore, and CSIR–IICT have studied oxidation of biomass and electrochemical CO₂ conversion.
• Formic acid is produced conventionally (~10,000–12,000 MT/year), but feedstock is methanol-derived.
• India has potential through biomass-rich regions and expanding green hydrogen mission to integrate formic acid as a storage vector.

Commercialization Outlook

Market & Demand

• Global formic acid market: ~$800 million (2024), projected CAGR ~4.5%.
• Applications:
• Textile dyeing and leather tanning
• Rubber coagulation
• Preservative in silage
• Battery and hydrogen carrier applications

Key Drivers

• Growing demand for low-toxicity de-icers and natural preservatives.
• Push for CO₂ utilization in the EU and China.
• Hydrogen economy using formic acid as liquid storage medium.
• Bio-routes allow modular, decentralized production near agri-waste or CO₂ sources.

Challenges to Address

• CO₂ hydrogenation requires precise catalyst systems and green H₂ availability.
• Fermentation and sugar oxidation routes offer low titers and need yield improvements.
• Need for purification systems to remove organic by-products from fermentation or oxidation.
• India lacks pilot-scale demonstration of any renewable formic acid technology.

Progress Indicators

• 2018–2020: BASF and Twelve demonstrate CO₂-based synthesis pathways.
• 2021–2023: Electrochemical startups show modular formic acid production units.
• 2024: Formic acid considered a potential H₂ carrier in Japan, Germany.
• India: Lab-scale electrochemical CO₂-to-formate work ongoing in select institutes.

CO₂ hydrogenation to formic acid is at TRL 7–8 globally (pilot to early commercial); fermentation and biomass oxidation methods are at TRL 4–6. In India, most work is at TRL 3–5, with no industrial deployment yet.

Conclusion

Bio-based formic acid represents a high-potential, low-carbon molecule with applications across agriculture, textiles, fuels, and hydrogen storage. While CO₂ hydrogenation is the most promising route globally, India’s strengths in agro-waste and green hydrogen infrastructure could support future deployment. Startups in the EU and US are already demonstrating the viability of electrochemical and microbial production platforms, and India has a unique opportunity to scale bio-formic acid production by aligning its carbon capture goals with green chemical manufacturing.

Wish to have bio-innovations industry or market research support from specialists for climate & environment? Talk to BioBiz team – Call Muthu at +91-9952910083 or send a note to ask@biobiz.in