Disclosed herein is a method for selectively reducing, using electrical energy, CO.sub.2 to formic acid, a catalyst for use in the method, and an electrochemical reduction system. The method for producing formic acid by electrochemically reducing carbon dioxide of the present invention includes (a) reacting carbon dioxide with a metal complex represented by formula (1), and (b) applying a voltage to a reaction product of the carbon dioxide and the metal complex represented by formula (1): ##STR00001##

Disclosed herein is a method for selectively reducing, using electrical energy, CO.sub.2 to formic acid, a catalyst for use in the method, and an electrochemical reduction system. The method for producing formic acid by electrochemically reducing carbon dioxide of the present invention includes (a) reacting carbon dioxide with a metal complex represented by formula (1), and (b) applying a voltage to a reaction product of the carbon dioxide and the metal complex represented by formula (1): ##STR00001##

A method of direct oxidation of a hydrocarbon to produce an oxygenated reaction product, wherein said method comprises contacting a peroxide and oxygen and the hydrocarbon with a suspension of catalyst particles dispersed in a liquid reaction medium, wherein the catalyst particles are unsupported and comprise at least one transition metal.

A method of direct oxidation of a hydrocarbon to produce an oxygenated reaction product, wherein said method comprises contacting a peroxide and oxygen and the hydrocarbon with a suspension of catalyst particles dispersed in a liquid reaction medium, wherein the catalyst particles are unsupported and comprise at least one transition metal.

Disclosed is a process for recovering formic acid from a formate ester of a C.sub.3 to C.sub.4 alcohol. Disclosed is also a process for producing formic acid by carbonylating a C.sub.3 to C.sub.4 alcohol, hydrolyzing the formate ester of the alcohol, and recovering a formic acid product. The alcohol may be dried and returned to the reactor. The process enables a more energy efficient production of formic acid than the carbonylation of methanol to produce methyl formate.

Disclosed is a process for recovering formic acid from a formate ester of a C.sub.3 to C.sub.4 alcohol. Disclosed is also a process for producing formic acid by carbonylating a C.sub.3 to C.sub.4 alcohol, hydrolyzing the formate ester of the alcohol, and recovering a formic acid product. The alcohol may be dried and returned to the reactor. The process enables a more energy efficient production of formic acid than the carbonylation of methanol to produce methyl formate.

A method of converting methane to an oxygenate. The method includes converting methane to an oxygenate with a transition metal ion loaded zeolite catalyst in an aqueous medium in the presence of gaseous O.sub.2 and CO at a temperature lower than 200 C. Also disclosed are a two-metal ion zeolite catalyst for converting methane to methanol and a method for preparing the two-metal ion zeolite catalyst.

A method of converting methane to an oxygenate. The method includes converting methane to an oxygenate with a transition metal ion loaded zeolite catalyst in an aqueous medium in the presence of gaseous O.sub.2 and CO at a temperature lower than 200 C. Also disclosed are a two-metal ion zeolite catalyst for converting methane to methanol and a method for preparing the two-metal ion zeolite catalyst.

Provided is a method for producing an alkaline earth metal formate, the method including a first step of reacting hydrogen and carbon dioxide with a carbonate or hydrogen carbonate of an alkaline earth metal using a homogeneous catalyst in the presence of a solvent in a two-phase system in which an organic phase and an aqueous phase are present in a separated state in the solvent to produce an alkaline earth metal formate.

Provided is a method for producing an alkaline earth metal formate, the method including a first step of reacting hydrogen and carbon dioxide with a carbonate or hydrogen carbonate of an alkaline earth metal using a homogeneous catalyst in the presence of a solvent in a two-phase system in which an organic phase and an aqueous phase are present in a separated state in the solvent to produce an alkaline earth metal formate.