Comparing different formaldehyde production processes
Formaldehyde is the main raw material for the manufacture of value-added chemicals such as melamine, urea-formaldehyde and phenolic resins. The most common product is in a 37% aqueous solution, but concentrations can be as high as 57%. Today, there are two main routes for industrial-scale production of formaldehyde: oxidation-dehydrogenation using silver catalysts, including complete or incomplete conversion of methanol; and direct oxidation of methanol to formaldehyde using metal oxide catalysts (Formox process). As an important component of chemicals used in the production of resins, adhesives, plywood and particle board, insulation materials and lubricants, formaldehyde is produced commercially through the catalytic oxidation of methanol. The production of formaldehyde from methanol using a silver catalyst is carried out at high temperatures and produces formalin, a 37% aqueous solution of formaldehyde. Iron oxide catalysts used with molybdenum or vanadium in the formaldehyde pr