Formic Acid

Brief Overview

Formic acid is the simplest carboxylic acid. It has a pungent and penetrating odor at room temperature. It is also miscible with water and most polar organic solvents but immiscible in non-polar solvents.

Formic acid can be found in the venom of bees and ants. It can undergo a series of organic reactions to form other relevant organic compounds, such as with alcohol to form esters, reduction to form aldehydes, decomposition to form carbon dioxide and water, and reaction with sulfuric acid to yield carbon monoxide.

Manufacturing Process

Hydrolysis of Methyl Formate

Formic acid can be manufactured with the reaction of methanol and carbon monoxide, in the presence of a strong base such as sodium methoxide. The methyl formate formed is then hydrolyzed to yield formic acid and regenerate methanol. With the regeneration of methanol, only a catalytic amount of methanol is required for the whole manufacturing process.

CH₃OH + CO → HCO₂CH₃

HCO₂CH₃ + H₂O → HCO₂H + CH₃OH

By-Product of Acetic Acid Production

Formic acid is also a by-product of the manufacturing of acetic acid. When acetic acid is manufactured via the acetaldehyde oxidation method, butane is oxidized, and ethylene is hydrated via the Wacker process to obtain acetaldehyde. Further oxidation of acetaldehyde yields acetic acid, with a significant amount of formic acid as a by-product.

Hydrogenation

Formic acid can also be formed from the hydrogenation of carbon dioxide or by heating oxalic acid in glycerol catalyst and extraction by steam distillation. Alternatively, oxidation of biomass such as sugars, wood, and waste paper can yield formic acid and carbon dioxide.

Agriculture Industry

Formic acid is also used as a preservative and antibacterial agent in livestock feed. In Europe, it is applied to silage to promote the fermentation of lactic acid and to suppress the formation of butyric acid. It also allows fermentation to occur quickly, and at a lower temperature, reducing the loss of nutritional value. Formic acid arrests certain decay processes and causes the feed to retain its nutritive value longer, and so it is widely used to preserve winter feed for cattle.

Textile & Dyeing Industry

Formic acid is used in dyeing and dye-fixing, setting, and retaining colors in fibers. Due to its acidic nature, it is also used as a neutralizing agent and pH adjuster in textile processing and finishing of textile, as effective and accurate pH control is required throughout the whole process of dyeing, processing, and finishing.

Other Applications

Formic acid has a wide range of uses. It is used as a miticide, to kill the tracheal mite. It is used instead of mineral acids in some cleaning products such as limescale remover and toilet cleaners. Its esters are used in the making of perfumes. It is also used in fuel cells, but it is still under study. It is used as a coagulant in rubber production. It is used in leather tanning and production. It is also added to animal fodder in the poultry industry, as it kills the E-coli.