Preparation of formic acid by hydrolysis of methyl formate

Details Preparation of formic acid by hydrolysis of methyl formate Preparation of formic acid by hydrolysis of methyl formate

1978-06-05

1981-11-10

Garner, Vivian

Organic compounds -- part of the class 532-570 series

Organic compounds

Carboxylic acids and salts thereof

203 77, 203 80, 203 88, 568877, 568913, C07C 2700, C07C 5109, C07C 5302

Patent

active

042999812

ABSTRACT:
Formic acid is produced in a continuous process by hydrolyzing methyl formate with water at high temperature and pressure in the presence of a formic acid catalyst. Methanol is also formed. The reesterification of the reaction products to methyl formate (a reaction favored by high temperatures) is minimized by flashing the reaction product at relatively low pressure and temperature and thereafter distilling the residual liquid under vacuum. This procedure separates the methyl alcohol from the formic acid with a minimum contact time and at a low temperature which does not favor the reesterification reaction. The flashed vapor, primarily unreacted methyl formate, is recycled to the reaction zone. High purity formic acid, i.e., 85%, is obtained by subjecting the bottom from the vacuum distillation to a second distillation step. The distillate from the vacuum distillation is distilled to separate residual methyl formate for recycle from the co-product methyl alcohol.
In another embodiment of the invention, prior to the main hydrolysis, the methyl formate is partially hydrolyzed to form the small amount of formic acid needed to accelerate the main hydrolysis step. Accordingly, the necessary formic acid catalyst is formed eliminating the need to recycle product formic acid.

REFERENCES:
patent: 2160064 (1939-05-01), Eversole
patent: 3907884 (1975-09-01), Lynn et al.

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