Method for producing anhydrous formic acid

US6841700B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• BASF SE

Inventors

• Heinz Auer · Neulußheim, DE
• Bernd Bessling · Grünstadt, DE
• Hans Hammer · Mannheim, DE
• Hans Hasse · Kaiserslautern, DE
• Friedrich Sauer · Grünstadt, DE
• Maximilian Vicari · Schifferstadt, DE
• Till Adrian · Frankenthal (Pfalz), DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 12, 2001
• Grant date: Jan 11, 2005
• Expiry date: Jan 23, 2021

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C07C51/48
• WIPO field: Organic fine chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

The invention relates to a process for obtaining anhydrous or substantially anhydrous formic acid, in which firstly aqueous formic acid is produced by hydrolysis of methyl formate, with the methanol content in the methyl formate having been reduced in advance. The process according to the invention has the special feature that—before the hydrolysis of the methyl formate—the methanol content of the methanol-containing methyl formate is reduced in a distillation column, this distillation column simultaneously being employed for other separation functions during work-up of the formic acid.