Process for catalytically converting methanol to formaldehyde
US4358623A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 23, 1981 |
| Grant date | Nov 9, 1982 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 23, 2001 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC07C45/38
- WIPO fieldOrganic fine chemistry
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
In catalytically oxidizing methanol in the vapor phase according to already-known processes for the production of formaldehyde, the hot formaldehyde-containing gaseous effluent of the catalytic converter is rapidly cooled by being passed through the tubes of a heat exchanger which are filled with balls composed of a solid which is substantially inert toward formaldehyde. As compared with a similar cooling system in which the tubes are empty or in which enhancement of heat transfer is attempted by using metal heat-transfer enhancement devices such as twisted metal ribbons, the present method affords reduced post-reaction decomposition of formaldehyde while at the same time allowing use of a relatively high temperature on the shell side of the heat exchanger whereby it becomes possible to raise steam at a pressure higher than that characteristic of the prior art.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.