Formaldehyde production via hydrogenation of carbon monoxide in the aqueous phase

Abstract

Discovery of a low temperature route to produce formaldehyde via catalytic hydrogenation of carbon monoxide in the aqueous phase.

Future perspectives for formaldehyde: pathways for reductive synthesis and energy storage

“…3 Today's modern societies are largely based on C1-molecules and their derivatives in many daily life products., 2,4,5,7 To sustain the status quo of modern life, it urgently requires more sustainable processes for the interconversion of those molecules. Owing to the massive global demands of methanol, the efforts focus on the substitution of the traditional oxidative methanol synthesis from natural gas by a reductive process utilizing abundant CO2.…”

“…30,31 In comparison to the classical formaldehyde synthesis, a direct conversion of syngas to formaldehyde would eliminate two energy intensive steps (methanol synthesis and oxidation) and most recently this has been proven as elegant alternative. 5 Surprisingly, the direct catalytic hydrogenation of carbon dioxide to formaldehyde or formalin has rarely been reported. In vast contrast, many reports Please do not adjust margins Please do not adjust margins on CO2 hydrogenation to formic acid and methanol are available, likewise reports where methanol and formic acid are described as hydrogen source.…”

“…16 Again in 2014, the first direct conversion of syngas (CO:H2 = 1:1) to formaldehyde has been realized in aqueous media (Scheme 9, patent filed). 5 The driving force to push the equilibrium into the desired direction was the performance of the reaction in the liquid rather than in the gaseous phase. Indeed, this reaction requires a protic environment to stabilise formaldehyde in form of methanediol or (hemi)acetals and prevent over-reduction to methanol.…”

“…2 For many decades, formaldehyde has been used in over 50 industrial processes as crucial building block (i. e. cross-linker) for daily life commodities such as germicides/disinfectants in hospitals, pharmaceuticals, paints/inks, cosmetics, resins, polymers/adhesives, besides many others. [4][5][6] The commercial importance of all these branches sums up to a globally multi-billion dollar market with the demands of over 30 mega tons per year of formaldehyde, 7 respectively paraformaldehyde and the forecast predicts an annual growth of 4%. However, so far formaldehyde as platform compound in the global energy storage sector does not play a significant role, although it provides interesting properties in comparison to other alternative solutions.…”

“…Scheme 1. C1-interconversion network of aqueous formaldehyde in relation to: (I) a reductive low-temperature formaldehyde synthesis, 2,5,7 (II) the decomposition of formaldehyde to syngas, 4 (III) OME as potential combustion fuel (additives) 8,10 and (IV) the application as LOHC for hydrogen fuel cells.…”