Formox process
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The FORMOX process produces formaldehyde. [[FORMOX]] is a worldwide registered trademark owned by Perstorp Specialty Chemicals AB, Sweden - Home page at www.perstorp.com
Industrially, formaldehyde is produced by catalytic oxidation of methanol. The most commonly used catalysts are silver metal or a mixture of an iron oxide with molybdenum and/or vanadium. In the more commonly used FORMOX process using iron oxide and molybdenium and/or vanadium, methanol and oxygen react at 400°C to produce formaldehyde according to the chemical equation:
[[methanol|CH<sub>3</sub>OH]] + ½ [[oxygen|O<sub>2</sub>]] → H<sub>2</sub>CO + [[water (molecule)|H<sub>2</sub>O]].
The silver-based catalyst is usually operated at a higher temperature, about 650°C. On it, two chemical reactions simultaneously produce formaldehyde: the one shown above, and the dehydrogenation reaction:
[[methanol|CH<sub>3</sub>OH]] → H<sub>2</sub>CO + [[hydrogen|H<sub>2</sub>]]
Further oxidation of the formaldehyde product during its production usually gives formic acid that is found in formaldehyde solution, found in ppm values.
[[Category:Industrial processes]]