Formic Acid Plant

A brief overview
Contents

Introduction

Process Description

Product Quality Parameters

MSDS
INTRODUCTION
Chemical Formula & Structure
Physical Properties
Molecular formula :
Molecular weight : 46.03gm/mole
Appearance : Colorless liquid
Odor : Highly pungent
Boiling point : 100 - 1010C
 Physical Properties
Melting point : 8.2 - 8.40C
Density : 1.22gm/cm3
Flashpoint : 48.00C
Auto ignition : 601.0C
Solubility : Water/Organic Solvents
Raw Materials
Sodium Formate (Imported)

Sulfuric Acid (Prepared in house through

Contact Process)
Manufacturing Methods
Direct/Indirect Hydrolysis of Methyl
Formate

Heating of Oxalic Acid in Anhydrous

Glycol
 Uses of Formic Acid
Preservative and antibacterial agent in
livestock feed. It is used to kill E. coli bacteria
in poultry industry

Production of leather including tanning, dyeing

and finishing of textile.

Coagulant in the production of rubber

Lime scale remover and toilet bowl cleaner

 Uses of Formic Acid
Insecticide against the tracheal mite

Production of methyl aniline to

N-methylformanilide in toluene

Volatile pH modifier in High Performance

Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and capillary
electrophoresis.
PROCESS DESCRIPTION
 Process Description
The process includes following sections
Reaction
Separation of Raw Sodium Sulfate
Formic Acid Recovery
Storage
Utility
Reaction Section
Stirred Batch Reactors
Reactor Set#1:
Number of Reactors : 4
Capacity : 2 tons
Sodium Sulfate : 1500
kg/batch
Sulfuric Acid : 560 litres/batch
Reaction Section
Stirred Batch Reactors
Reactor Set#2
Number of Reactors : 2
Capacity : 3 tons
Sodium Sulfate : 2100 kg/batch
Sulfuric Acid : 800 litres/batch
Reaction Section
Reaction

Operating Conditions
Temperature : 45-55 C
Pressure : Atm Pressure
Batch Time : 6-7 Hrs
Sulfate Removal
Raw Sulfate is removed using steam jacketed pots.

Formic acid is evaporated in form of vapors

which is purified and condensed.

Sodium Sulfate is obtained in Powder form called

RAW SULFATE

This sulfur contains oil and iron as impurities

Number of pots : 6
Vapor Recovery
Raw Sulfate is removed using steam jacketed pots.

Formic acid is evaporated in form of vapors

which is purified and condensed.

Sodium Sulfate is obtained in Powder form called

RAW SULFATE

This sulfur contains oil and iron as impurities

Number of pots : 6