338.    BREDIG, G., AND CARTER, S. R.  [Catalytic Synthesis of Formic Acid Under Pressure.]  Ber. Deut. Chem. Gesell., vol. 47, 1914, pp. 541-545; Chem. Abs., vol. 8, 1914, p. 1584. 

                  Object of this work was to determine:  (1) Whether the equilibrium in the formation of HCO2H from ordinary H2 and CO2 could be materially shifted in favor of the HCO2H formation by sufficiently decreasing its partial pressure, and (2) whether the reaction velocity could be increased enough by the use of a suitable catalyzer and of high pressures.  Below are given, respectively, the weight of substance used in 200 cm.3 H2O, the gas pressure, the time, and the yield of formate in % of the theoretical amount that would have been formed if all of the carbonate, or borax had been converted into formate.  In all cases but (1), where no catalyzer was used, 1.5 gm. Pd sponge was employed, and the temperature was 70° except in (3) where it was 95°.  (1) 10 gm. KHCO3, 60 atm. H2, 24 hr., 0.6%, (2) 10 gm. KHCO3, 60 atm. H2, 23 hr., 74.7%, (3) 10 gm. KHCO3, 30 atm. H2, 26 hr., 66.3%, (4) 0.4 gm. CaCO3, 50 atm. H2+20 atm. CO2, 4.5 h r., 100%, (5) 9.5 gm. Na2B4O7.10H2O, 30 atm. H2+30 atm. CO2, 16 hr., 21.7%, (6) 10.6 gm. Na2CO3, 60 atm. H2, 7 hr., 0.4%.  The negligible yield with Na2CO3, in spite of its stronger alkalinity, as compared with that obtained with KHCO3, would indicate that the velocity and free energy of the HCO2H formation rises and falls not only with the partial pressure of the H2 but also with that of the CO2.  The small yield with KHCO2 but without Pd shows that the method is really catalytic.