Question

How can formaldehyde be produced as a product from natural gas ?

Answer 1

A+B ---> C   

In your case take natural gas. natural gas contains methane CH4.

TAKE CH4 is A.

this CH4 reacts with steam and this process is called steam reforming which produces carbonmonoxide and hydrogen. this carbon monoxide and hydrogen are again treated with one another to get methanol.

Now steam is B

take methanol (CH3OH) is C.

Now this methanol is used to produce formaldehyde either by oxidation reaction or dehydrogenation reaction.

formaldehyde is D.

final :

METHANE (natural gas) ----> CO & H2 ----> CH3OH----> HCHO/(CH2O).

Please comment if you have any doubt.