Overview
Formic acid is the simplest carboxylic acid. It is also known as methanoic acid in the market. Formic acid is a naturally occurring substance, found due to forest emissions and in insects like bees and ants. In the market, it is available as a colorless fuming liquid. Ants belong to the family of Formicidae, they spray formic acid from their body onto the enemies whenever they are attacked. For many chemical reactions, it is an important intermediate. It is one of the vital ingredients for preparing industrial-grade methanol. For Formic acid MSDS and TDS you can check Specification tab. Some of the top players in formic acid are BASF, Eastman chemical company, and Feicheng acid chemicals. When studied geographically Europe, especially Germany and Mainland China are the top suppliers for formic acid in the world.
Manufacturing process:
- With methyl formate and formamide – When methanol reacts with water, methyl formate is formed. This on further hydrolysis gives formic acid.
CH3OH + CO → HCO2CH3
HCO2CH3 + H2O → HCO2H + CH3OH
- Ammonia can be used. Methyl formate reacts with ammonia to form formamide, which on treatment with sulphuric acid gives formic acid.
HCO2CH3 + NH3 → HC(O)NH2 + CH3OH
2 HC(O)NH2 + 2H2O + H2SO4 → 2HCO2H + (NH4)2SO4
Many manufacturers use the first route to avoid the formation of by-products formed in the second route.
- In the laboratory, formic acid can be obtained by heating oxalic acid in glycerol. Glycerol acts as a catalyst, as the reaction proceeds through a glyceryl oxalate intermediary.
C2O4H2 → CO2H2 + CO
Application
The Uses of Formic Acid
- Food and Beverage : Having an E number from European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), formic acid is classified as a preservative in the food industry with an E number of E236.
- Agriculture : Agriculture used formic acid as an active ingredient of pesticide to directly kill the mites around beehives without disrupting the bees or the life span.
- Textile : Similar to the leather industry, textile industry used formic acid to neutralize excess alkaline in textile manufacture.
- Leather : Leather industry used formic acid to homogenize the tanning of hides and penetrate collagen fibers. Formic acid neutralize the excess alkali involved in a tanning processing.
Specification
PRODUCT IDENTIFICATION
| CAS NO | 64-18-6 |
| FORMULA | HCOOH |
| H.S CODE | 29151100 |
| MOL WT | 46.025 g mol-1 |
| SYNONYMS | Methanoic acid, Formylic acid, Hydrogen carboxylic acid |
PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
| PHYSICAL STATE | Clear liquid |
| MELTING POINT | 8oC |
| BOILING POINT | 101oC @ 760 mmHg |
| SOLUBILITY IN WATER | Miscible. |
| PH | 3.47 (1mM) |
| SPECIFIC GRAVITY | 1.220 |
| NFPA RATINGS | Health: 3; Flammability: 2; Instability: 1 |
| STABILITY | Hygroscopic: absorbs moisture or water from the air. Keep Refrigerated. Formic acid may decompose to carbon Monoxide and water or carbon dioxide and hydrogen gas. These decomposition products develop pressure. Heat Sensitive. |