OBTAINING ANHYDROUS OR SUBSTANTIALLY ANHYDROUS FORMIC ACID BY HYDROLYSIS OF METHYL FORMATE

    公开(公告)号:CA1238919A

    公开(公告)日:1988-07-05

    申请号:CA476766

    申请日:1985-03-18

    Applicant: BASF AG

    Abstract: Anhydrous of substantially anhydrous formic acid is obtained by hydrolysis of methyl formate by a process in which, methyl formate is hydrolyzed in the presence of a carboxamide of the general formula (I): (I) where R1 is alkyl or hydrogen, R2 is alkyl, R3 is hydrogen or a C1 to C4 alkyl, and R1 and R2 may form part of a 5membered or 6-membered ring, and the sum of the carbon atoms in the radicals R1, R2 and R3 is from 1 to 14. The mixture formed during the hydrolysis is separated into its individual components in a first distillation column which is divided into a feed part and a take-off part by separating means which are effective in the longitudinal direction. During the process the hydrolysis mixture is fed into the feed part, while methanol and unreacted methyl formate are taken off as a top product and as a side product. Formic acid and the carboxamide of formula I (as extracting agent) are taken off as an anhydrous or substantially anhydrous bottom product. Water, preferably in liquid form, is removed from the take-off part. Finally the bottom product from the first distillation column is separated, in a second distillation column, into formic acid and the extracting agent. This process avoids decomposition of the products and does not require liquid-liquid extraction to remove water.

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