ELECTROCHEMICAL CONVERSION OF CARBON-DIOXIDE TO METHANOL WITH USE OF ENZYMES AS BIOCATALYSTS

Electrolysis of carbon dioxide-saturated phosphate buffer solution (pH 7) in the presence of formate dehydrogenase and methanol dehydrogenas e as electrocatalysts together with methylviologen as an electron rela y yielded formaldehyde and methanol as the reduction products of carbo n dioxide under suitable electrolysis conditions, and the use of pyrro lo-quinoline quinone in place of methylviologen as the electron relay afforded selective reduction of carbon dioxide to methanol.