OICC Press Journal of Theoretical and Applied Physics 2251-7235 19 2 2025 04 10 Synthesis of formic acid using anodic plasma electrolysis 1 10 10.57647/j.jtap.2025.1902.23 EN Triana Devi Sijabat Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Indonesia, Indonesia. https://orcid.org/0009-0002-6681-7868 Nelson Saksono Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Indonesia, Indonesia. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8810-1660 Bening Farawan Department of Research and Innovation Infrastructure-BRIN, Cibinong, Indonesia. Journal Article 2025 04 10 Anodic plasma electrolysis, an advanced oxidation process (AOP), is an alternative method for synthesizingformic acid through the oxidation of methanol, known for producing a high amount of hydroxyl radicals(OH•). This study aims to synthesize formic acid using anodic plasma electrolysis at a high power settingof 500 W. In addition, it seeks to determine the effects of applied voltage and air injection flow rates on theformation of formic acid from methanol and ethanol feedstocks. The experimental setup involved injectingair through a cathode pipe into the anodic plasma zone in a Na2SO4 electrolyte solution. The process wasconducted in a 1.2-L batch reactor, varying the voltage and air injection flow rates, using methanol and ethanolas feed materials. The highest yield of formic acid was 5.077 mmol from methanol oxidation and 7.268 mmolfrom ethanol oxidation after 45 minutes of reaction time. Optimal results were achieved at an applied voltageof 680 V, an air injection flow rate of 0.8 Lpm (L/min), a fixed power of 500 W, and a feed concentration of2% v/v. The primary by-product identified was nitrate (NO−3 ), with 2.093 mmol generated from methanoloxidation and 2.281 mmol from ethanol oxidation. In addition, the morphology of the eroded stainless steelelectrode revealed a mushroom-like shape with a rough and porous surface.