Formalin to para-formaldehyde polymerization?
how to do.
acid, base, distill, heat, chill.....?
thanks bees.
Formaldehyde polymerization is acid-catalyzed and takes place spontaneously (with the evolution of heat) in aqueous solutions. Commercial formalin solutions contains methanol as a polymerization inhibitor, so I assume you need to remove it somehow.
Cool, now I know it is acid catalyized. I guess one could try hitting it with a bunch of aqueous HCL and see what happins. Any bee have any other thoughts?
Thanks