Introduction
To manufacture formaldehyde by oxidation method, fresh air is mixed with process recirculation gas, which will be reacted in a fixed-bed reactor to produce formaldehyde gas catalyzed by a metal oxide catalyst, and the formaldehyde gas will be absorbed into semi-finished formaldehyde products by water through an absorption tower, which will be transferred to the formaldehyde barrel area and then adjusted to 14~44% finished products.
FORMALDEHYDE (FORMALIN): TECHNICAL DATA SHEET
| Category |
Specifications |
| Chemical Name |
Formaldehyde (Formalin: 37-40% aqueous solution) |
| CAS No. |
50-00-0 (Formaldehyde), 30525-89-4 (Formalin) |
| Molecular Formula |
CH₂O |
| Appearance |
Colorless gas (pure); Clear liquid (Formalin) |
| Odor |
Pungent, suffocating |
| Density (20°C) |
0.815 g/cm³ (gas), 1.09 g/cm³ (Formalin) |
| Boiling Point |
-19°C (gas), 96°C (Formalin) |
| Flash Point |
85°C (Formalin, closed cup) |
Key Properties
| Property |
Performance Data |
| Solubility |
Miscible with water, alcohol, acetone |
| Reactivity |
Strong reducing agent; polymerizes readily |
| Preservative Action |
Effective bactericide/fungicide at 0.5-5% |
| pH (Formalin) |
2.5-4.5 (stabilized with methanol) |
| Vapor Pressure |
52 kPa (20°C, gas) |
Applications
| Industry |
Primary Uses |
| Healthcare |
Disinfectant, tissue preservation (10% Formalin) |
| Resins Production |
Urea-formaldehyde, phenol-formaldehyde resins |
| Textiles |
Anti-wrinkle finishing agent |
| Agriculture |
Soil sterilant, seed treatment |
| Cosmetics |
Nail hardeners (≤0.2% concentration) |
Safety & Handling
| Parameter |
Requirements |
| GHS Classification |
H301, H311, H314, H317, H331, H335, H350 |
| Exposure Limits (OSHA) |
0.75 ppm (TWA), 2 ppm (STEL) |
| PPE |
Respirator, gloves, goggles, lab coat |
| Storage |
Sealed containers, 15-25°C, ventilated area |
| Fire Fighting |
Water spray, alcohol-resistant foam |
Environmental Impact
| Aspect |
Data |
| VOC Status |
Yes (Formalin contains methanol) |
| Biodegradability |
Readily biodegradable (aqueous) |
| Atmospheric Lifetime |
~1 hour (reacts with hydroxyl radicals) |
| Regulatory Restrictions |
Restricted in cosmetics (EU), listed as carcinogen (IARC Group 1) |
Comparison with Alternatives
| Feature |
Formaldehyde |
Glutaraldehyde |
Hydrogen Peroxide |
| Disinfection Efficiency |
★★★★ |
★★★★★ |
★★★☆ |
| Toxicity |
High |
Moderate |
Low |
| Material Compatibility |
Corrosive to metals |
Less corrosive |
Non-corrosive |
References:
- NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards (2023)
- IARC Monographs Vol. 100F (Formaldehyde carcinogenicity)
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