The production of oxalic acid from CO2 and H2O

Oxalic acid has been prepared on a preparative scale in an undivided cell with sacrificial anodes and an aprotic electrolyte. Optimum current efficiencies (>90%) have been obtained in cells with zinc anodes, stainless steel cathodes and acetonitrile with tetrabutylammonium perchlorate as the electrolyte. Micro-pilot experiments revealed that a continuous electrochemical cell can be set up and that the reaction product can be removed by filtration. A complete process is designed by a combination of the oxalic acid production with a zinc electrolysis. No unwanted by-products appear, which is recently of increasing importance. Economic consideration shows that the process may become interesting in the future.