formic acid brief introduction

Formic acid, also known as formic acid, has the chemical formula HCOOH. Ants and bees, as well as other Hymenoptera insects, contain formic acid in their secretions. Initially, people distilled ants to produce formic acid, hence the name. Formic acid is colorless and has a pungent odor, and is corrosive. It can cause blisters and redness on human skin upon contact. Melting point 8.4 ℃, boiling point 100.8 ℃. Due to the unique structure of formic acid, one of its hydrogen atoms is directly connected to a carboxyl group. It can also be seen as a hydroxyformaldehyde. Therefore, formic acid has both acidic and aldehyde properties. In the chemical industry, formic acid is used in the rubber, pharmaceutical, dye, and leather industries.

formic acid Basic information

formic acid Numbering system

formic acid Physical and Chemical Properties

• Appearance and characteristics:

• Colorless liquid with a pungent odor

Density:

one point two two

Boiling point:

101 °C

Melting point:

8.2-8.4 °C(lit.)

Flash point:

133 °F

Refractive index:

n20/D 1.377

Water solubility:

MISCIBLE

• Stability:

• Stable. Substances to be avoided include strong bases, strong oxidizing agents and powdered metals, furfuryl alcohol. Combustible. Hygroscopic. Pressure may build up in tightly closed bottles, so bottles should be opened carefully and vented periodically.

• Storage conditions:

• The warehouse should be ventilated, low-temperature and dry, and stored separately from alkalis, oxidants, H-pore forming agents, and cyanides

Steam density:

1.03 (vs air)

Steam pressure:

52 mm Hg ( 37 °C)

security information

• RTECS：

• LP8925000

Safety instructions:

S36/37-S45-S26-S23-S36/37/39

Hazard category code:

R35

WGK Germany：

two

Customs code:

two billion nine hundred and fifteen million one hundred and ten thousand

Dangerous goods transportation code:

UN 1198 3/PG 3

Hazard category:

eight

Packaging grade:

II

Dangerous goods signs:

C

Danger signs:

GHS05, GHS07

Supplementary Hazard Statement:

Corrosive to the respiratory tract.

Hazard description:

H226; H302; H314; H331

Hazard prevention instructions:

P261; P280; P301 + P312 + P330; P303 + P361 + P353; P304 + P340 + P310; P305 + P351 + P338

Signal words:

Danger

Production method and purpose

Production method

1. Sodium formate method involves the reaction of carbon monoxide and sodium hydroxide solution at 160-200 ℃ and 2MPa pressure to produce sodium formate, which is then subjected to sulfuric acid hydrolysis and distillation to obtain the final product.

2. Methanol carbonylation method (also known as methyl formate method) involves the reaction of methanol and carbon monoxide in the presence of sodium methoxide catalyst to produce methyl formate, which is then hydrolyzed to produce formic acid and methanol. Methanol can be recycled into the methyl formate reactor, and formic acid can be further distilled to obtain products of different specifications.

3. The formamide method involves the reaction of carbon monoxide and ammonia in methanol solution to produce formamide, which is then hydrolyzed in the presence of sulfuric acid to obtain formic acid and produce ammonium sulfate as a byproduct. Raw material consumption quota: 31kg/t methanol, 702kg/t carbon monoxide, 314kg/t ammonia, 1010kg/t sulfuric acid. In addition, the butane light oil oxidation method is mainly used to produce acetic acid, and formic acid is recovered as a by-product. The methods in the research stage include direct synthesis of carbon monoxide and water. Refining method: Anhydrous formic acid can be directly distilled under reduced pressure and condensed by cooling with ice water during distillation. For aqueous formic acid, boron anhydride or anhydrous copper sulfate can be used as desiccants. Phosphorus pentoxide and calcium chloride can react with formic acid and are not suitable for use as desiccants. For reagent grade 88% formic acid, the water can be removed by refluxing with phthalic anhydride for 6 hours and then distilling. Further purification can be achieved through stepwise crystallization method. When formic acid and acetic acid are mixed together, fatty hydrocarbons can be added for azeotropic distillation separation.

4. React an appropriate amount of carbon monoxide and sodium hydroxide solution at 160-200 ℃ to produce sodium formate, which is then neutralized, distilled, and condensed. Alternatively, it can be prepared by reacting carbon dioxide with hydrogen at 140-160 ℃ using palladium complex as a catalyst in triethylamine aqueous solution.

5. Industrial grade formic acid can be prepared by reacting sodium formate with concentrated sulfuric acid, and then purified by vacuum distillation after adsorption with activated carbon. Alternatively, B2O3 can be added

3 CuSO4 is refined by vacuum distillation.

6. The carbon dioxide method is obtained by reacting carbon dioxide with hydrogen gas at 140-160 ℃ in triethylamine aqueous solution under the catalysis of palladium complex. Reaction equation:

7. The main methods used are synthetic acidification and high-pressure catalysis. Synthesis acidification method: Sodium formate is synthesized from carbon monoxide produced by burning coke and sodium hydroxide, then acidified with sulfuric acid and distilled. High pressure catalytic method: It is obtained by reacting carbon monoxide and water vapor in the presence of a catalyst at high temperature and high pressure.

8. Preparation method: Mix formic acid with phosphorus pentoxide, perform vacuum distillation, repeat 5-10 times to obtain anhydrous formic acid, but the yield is low, the time is long, and it may cause some decomposition. Distillation of formic acid and boric acid is easy to operate and yields better results. Dehydrate boric acid at high temperature until no more bubbles are produced. Pour the resulting molten material onto an iron sheet, cool it in a dryer, and then grind it into powder. Add boric acid phenol fine powder to formic acid and let it sit for a few days to form a hard block. Separate the clear liquid and perform vacuum distillation. Collect the 22-25 ℃/12-18mm fraction as the product. The distiller should have a fully ground joint and be protected by a drying tube.

use to

Acid is a fundamental organic chemical raw material

1、 Widely used in pesticides, leather, textiles, printing and dyeing, pharmaceuticals, and rubber industries, it can also produce various solvents, plasticizers, rubber coagulants, animal feed additives, and new process synthesis of insulin. In China's formic acid consumption, the pharmaceutical industry accounts for about 45%, the chemical industry accounts for about 30%, and other sectors such as light industry and textiles account for about 25%. Formic acid is one of the important exported chemical products in China. At present, all formic acid production in China adopts the sodium formate method. Formic acid is commonly used as a substitute for inexpensive, less volatile, and corrosive inorganic acids, and is widely used in the light industry. In the textile and printing and dyeing industry, formic acid is used as an agent to eliminate the nitrous acid gas generated by the sodium nitrite method of indocyanine, as well as a dyeing aid for weakly acidic dyes and neutral complex dyes, and as a dyeing aid for reactive dyes dyeing nylon. Formic acid will not remain on fabrics during the printing and dyeing process. Its acidity is stronger than acetic acid and can reduce hexachrome, thus improving the utilization rate of dyes in chromium mordant dyeing. Replacing sulfuric acid with formic acid can prevent cellulose degradation, and the acidity is moderate, making it an excellent dyeing aid for easy dyeing. Formic acid, as a substitute for inorganic acids, is used for decolorization, depilation, lime neutralization, and prevention of mold growth in tanned leather. Using formic acid as a coagulant can improve the quality of natural rubber, reduce production costs, and also be used for the regeneration of waste rubber. The use of formic acid as a feed additive has great potential in silage feed. Formic acid has the function of inhibiting or preventing mold growth, and can change the natural fermentation form of feed. Fatty acids are often added to enhance the anti mold effect. Feeding cows with green feed treated with formic acid can prevent milk production reduction in winter and significantly improve the fattening effect. In the food industry, formic acid is used for disinfection and preservation in the brewing industry, as a cleaning and disinfecting agent for canned goods, and as a preservative for fruit juice and food. A large number of derivatives of formic acid are intermediates in pharmaceuticals, pesticides, dyes, fragrances, solvents, used in the manufacture of borneol, aminopyrine, caffeine, vitamin B1, metamaterial, imidacloprid, pyruvic acid, tricycloimidazole, dimethylformamide, etc. The substituted formamide and formate esters in formic acid derivatives are widely used in industry (see the entry for formamide derivatives). Esters of formic acid are widely used in the spice industry, such as: ethyl formate - peach, berry and other fruit essence; Isoamyl formate - fruit essence, leather essence; Hexyl formate - apple essence; Heptyl formate - apricot, plum, peach and other fruit essence; N-decyl formate for orange blossom essence and iris oil; Benzyl formate - jasmine and other flower fragrance and soap essence; Cinnamomum formate - used for essence such as jasmine and moonlight fragrance; Citronella formate - used for rose, osmanthus, wild lily and other essence; Eugenol formate - used for carnation essence, etc; Formic acid geranyl ester - rose, orange flower, fragrant leaf and other essence; Linalyl formate - lavender, lemon and other essence; Menthyl formate - cosmetic essence, spray essence; Phenylethyl formate - white rose, orchid, chrysanthemum and other essence; Thyme formate - cosmetic flavoring. Used as an analytical reagent, such as a reducing agent, to prepare buffer solutions. It is also used for the preparation of pure carbon monoxide and pesticides. Sterilization and mold prevention in pulp manufacturing. It can also manufacture leather softeners, rubber coagulants, dyeing and finishing agents for fibers and paper, plasticizers, and animal feed additives. It can also be used as a preservative in cosmetics, with a maximum allowable content of 5% (acid) in cosmetics. Formic acid and its aqueous solutions can dissolve many metals, metal oxides, hydroxides, and salts, and the resulting formate salts can dissolve in water, making them suitable as chemical cleaning agents. Formic acid does not contain chloride ions and can be used for cleaning equipment containing stainless steel materials. Used for the production of chemical drugs, rubber coagulants, textiles, printing and dyeing, electroplating, etc.