Formaldehyde

Abstract

Formaldehyde is a versatile, reactive substance, basic to the chemical industry because of its low cost and ease of production. It is manufactured by vapor‐phase oxidation of methanol using two principal processes. One method employs a pure silver catalyst and the other an iron molybdate catalyst. Several other processes are under development, but none have been commercialized. All processes are capital intensive, requiring integrated reaction, heat recovery, and purification systems to achieve optimum economic benefits. Formaldehyde is sold as concentrated, aqueous solutions, and may contain methanol to inhibit polymerization. It is also sold in alcohol solutions, which contain little water. Its principal uses are in the production of amino and phenolic resins, polyhydric alcohols, acetal resins, paraformaldehyde, and fertilizers. It reacts with numerous organic compounds in condensation‐type reactions, resulting in formation of one or more new carbon‐carbon bonds. In recent years, formaldehyde has come under increased scrutiny because of its potential negative health effects. It is an irritant to the eyes, nose, and throat, and is a suspected human carcinogen.

A review of the chemical and physical mechanisms of the storage stability of fast pyrolysis bio-oils

“…Conversely, if the formaldehyde polymer is stabilized with the proper end groups (e.g., esterification of the hydroxyl end group with acetic anhydride), it can be a useful polymer such as DuPont's Delrin. Without special polymerization techniques, the value of n is limited to about 100 (Gerberich et al 1980). …”

“…This forms "…a complex equilibrium mixture of methylene glycol (CH 2 (OH) 2 ), poly(oxymethylene glycols) and hemiformals of these glycols." The water and methanol stabilize the formaldehyde and prevent the formation of polyformaldehyde resins (Gerberich et al 1980). …”

Selectivity in Methanol Oxidation as Studied on Model Systems Involving Vanadium Oxides

“…The role of vanadyl species will be investigated in this paper with respect to alcohol oxidation even though in this case the process used commercially involves silver and ironmolybdate catalysts [17,18]. In this publication we present detailed catalytic studies on alcohol oxidation for supported vanadia and for ordered V 2 O 3 (0001) thin films grown on Au(111).…”

Synergistic Effect of 1,4-Benzenedimethaneamine Assembled Graphene Supported Palladium for Formaldehyde Oxidation Reaction in Alkaline Media

“…5 HCHO is an extremely important industrial raw material due to its high purity, relative cheapness and chemical activity. HCHO is found in more than 2000 products 6 including soap, shampoo, detergents, and as sterilizing agent in medicine and pharmacology. Instead, HCHO is also a natural metabolite of living organisms, found in vegetables, fruits, flesh 7 and biological fluids of human origin.…”

“…Instead, HCHO is also a natural metabolite of living organisms, found in vegetables, fruits, flesh 7 and biological fluids of human origin. 6 A level of 0.5 to 2 μM was permitted in industrial areas 6 because it badly affects central nervous, immune and blood system of humans which could result in stunted growth, blindness and respiratory disorder. 7 All these facts convincingly demonstrate the requirement of simple and sensitive method for determination of HCHO in specific biotechnological processes, medicine, environmental control and even for food and drinking water analysis.…”