Process for the preparation of formic acid

• Main Authors: HAMLIN; JOHN E, KENT; ALEXANDER G, DRURY; DAVID J, ANDERSON; JEFFREY J
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 08.08.1989
• Subjects: ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS; APPARATUS THEREFOR; CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOIDCHEMISTRY; CHEMISTRY; GENERAL METHODS OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY; ORGANIC CHEMISTRY; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS; TRANSPORTING

PCT No. PCT/GB85/00443 Sec. 371 Date Apr. 30, 1986 Sec. 102(e) Date Apr. 30, 1986 PCT Filed Sep. 26, 1985 PCT Pub. No. WO86/02066 PCT Pub. Date Apr. 10, 1986.An integrated process for the production of formic acid from carbon dioxide and hydrogen. The process comprises for example, a reactor in which the formate salt of a nitrogenous base is produced together with subsequent purification and formic acid recovery stages. In the process described formic acid is recovered from the formate salt by using a base interchange reaction in which there is generated a thermally decomposable formate salt of a high boiling base. The high boiling base can be for example an imidazole and the nitrogenous base can be triethylamine.