(Hive Bee)
09-11-01 02:20
No 212020
Hi bees have a look at this reaction swim found in one of her textbooks:
50% NaOH
2HCHO -----------> CH3OH + HCOO-Na+
Plain old formaldehyde can be used to make MeOH (a handy solvent) and sodium formate.
Clean up - Distill off MeOH (bp 65 C). Then distill off all the water. Then acidify with H2SO4 and distill off the formic acid (bp 100.5 C). Any comments?
(Stranger)
09-11-01 03:45
No 212025
The H2SO4 could oxidise the formic
(Hive Addict)
09-11-01 16:19
No 212269
Maybe acidify with hydrochloric acid and boil off the azeotrope (which, btw has a higher BP than water or formic acid)?
(Chief Bee)
09-11-01 16:45
No 212278
Exactly, acidify just until neutral with HCl, and distill off the azeotrope (22.5% formic acid, 77.5% water) with a boiling point of 107.1°C (higher than that of formic acid, 100.8° C or water, 100°C). Make sure enough water is present, and collect the 105-110°C fraction.
(Hive Bee)
09-12-01 05:28
No 212526
It's a simple dismutation....
(Hive Addict)
09-12-01 18:25
No 212832
I take it 22% HCOOH can be used in a performic?
(Chief Bee)
09-12-01 18:34
No 212837
I'd suggest distillation of it first to achieve the above mentioned azeotrope. 22% seems a little bit low, but maybe it still would work with good agitation of the reaction.