Question

How much methanol is needed to produce 1 tonne of formaldehyde by 1-the formox process

2- BASF process

3- incomplete conversion using a silver catalyst

Answer 1

BASF PROCESS -Partial oxidation and dehydrogenation with air in the presence of silver crystals, steam, and excess methanol at 680 – 720 C (BASF process, methanol conversion = 97 – 98 %).

INCOMPLETE CONVERSION - Partial oxidation and dehydrogenation with air in the presence of crystalline silver orsilver gauze, steam, and excess methanol at 600 – 650 C [47] (primary conversion of methanol =77 – 87 %). The conversion is completed by distilling the product and recycling the unreacted methanol.

THE FORMOX PROCESS - Oxidation only with excess air in the presence of a modified iron – molybdenum – vanadium oxide catalyst at 250 – 400 C (methanol conversion = 98 – 99 %)