Process for preparing formic acid by reaction of carbon dioxide and hydrogen

The present invention, the hydrogenation reactor (I) in at eighth group of the periodic table, a catalyst containing an element from Group 9 or Group 10, containing at least 12 carbon molecules per molecule tertiary amines, as well as methanol, ethanol, to produce formic acid by reaction in the presence of a polar solvent containing one or more monoalcohols selected from propanol and butanol and carbon dioxide (1) and hydrogen (2) a method for subsequently formic acid / amine adduct is thermally decomposed is formed as an intermediate, tertiary amines having at least 5 ° C. higher boiling point than the formic acid is used, the hydrogenation reactor (I) in the reaction at the inner, the polar solvent is discharged as effluent (3) from the reactor, wherein the formic acid / amine adducts, the reaction mixture containing the tertiary amine and the catalyst form On how to be.