Manufacture of formaldehyde

US3994977A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• BASF SE

Inventors

• Albrecht Aicher · Bischofswerda, DE
• Hans Haas
• Oskar Hussey, deceased
• Hans Diem · Mannheim, DE
• Guenther Matthias
• Gunter Lehmann · Ludwigshafen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: May 10, 1974
• Grant date: Nov 30, 1976
• Expiry date: May 10, 1994

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C07C45/38
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Manufacture of formaldehyde by oxidative dehydrogenation of methanol in the presence of a silver catalyst, wherein methanol and water are evaporated in the presence of air in a plate column containing a number of double plates each consisting of a sieve plate and a lower plate having the form of a shallow bowl and inclined at a specific angle to the horizontal, the resulting vaporous mixture then being reacted. The formaldehyde which may be produced by the process of the invention is a disinfectant, tanning agent, reducing agent and a valuable starting material for the manufacture of synthetic resins, adhesives and plastics.