Photoreduction of CO2 into Formic Acid Within Aqueous Solution

• Main Author: Fattah Suyadi, Al
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Subjects: Teknik (Rekayasa, enjinering dan kegiatan berkaitan)
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/38630
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Photoreduction of carbon dioxide reaction into formic acid is one of the most compromising method to be explored because it is able to use light energy in order for a reaction to happen. Using the photoreduction principle, carbon dioxide as a green house gas emission can be converted into organic chemical that has a higher value of economy, one of them is formic acid which is used for hydrogen-carrier storage. Photoreduction process needs photocatalyst that can increase the rate of reaction and photosensitizer that is able to help photocatalyst in fulfilling its bandgap energy. The purpose of this research is to determine photocatalyst’s synthesis condition toward its characteristics, to examine photocatayst’s performance to produce formic acid and to determine the effect of photosensitizer addition towards the production of formic acid. Photoreduction process was held within room condition using three 2800 lm lamp with 0,2 litre per minute rate of carbon dioxide gas for about two hours. Zinc titanate doped with aluminium was used as the photocatalyst. Qualitative analysis inclue silver solid and acidity test and quantitative analysis include titration and High Performance Liquid Chromatography test. The silver solid test indicated the formation of formic acid. Based on acidity profile data, anthocyanin as photosensitizer could increase higher acidity in the mixture than melanin. The High Performance Liquid Chromatography test showed there was no visible formic acid peak in all variation, assuming it existed in a very low concentration.