Degradation of formic acid in different oxidative processes

The decomposition of formic acid by OH radicals produced upon UV irradiation of hydrogen peroxide or in a spark corona discharge between solid electrodes and water surface was studied. Experimental data for both processes are rationalized in terms of the same scheme of transformation of formic acid and various schemes of interaction of active species. The degradation yields in these processes are compared with those obtained in a radiation-chemical process. The yields with reference to the efficiency of the devices were shown to be close in value in all cases.