What is formalin?
Formalin is 37% to 50% solution of formaldehyde gas in water. Formalin is colorless, transparent, highly odorous liquid, an aqueous solution of formaldehyde gas polar solvents. Irritant, toxic and used as the most usable material in chemical, painting and plastic industries and it is the third level of usable chemical materials.
The initial material of formalin is methanol which is an alcohol with boiling point of 65 C which will be evaporated quickly and will produce an explosive gas after being combined with oxygen.
We should use sparkle equipment, firefighting equipment, gas leaking sensors, different storage equipped with chiller, Nitrogen gas injection part and etc. in order to prevent risks in transportation and storage of Methanol.
In formalin production unit, first we change methanol to extremely hot vapor by heating and then combine with oxygen and conveyed on catalyst at 300 temperatures. After transmission of combined gases on catalyst in reactor unit, formaldehyde gas will produce.
Formaldehyde process
formaldehyde gas with nitrogen, carbon dioxide and water vapor exit from reactor and conducted to absorption tower after being cold. As a result of water flow, available formaldehyde in gas was absorbed and Formalin solution will be produced and will kept in lower port of tower and conveyed to storage condenser after being cold.
Since chemical reaction of formaldehyde is very complex and dangerous, so advanced computerized unit by use of PLC system, control this process automatically.
After primary quality controls, The produced formalin is transferred to the original storage reservoir which will be sent out for sale or consumptions.
Specification, packing and properties of formalin
packing is in HDPE drum, each drum container 240Kg formalin on pallet.20 pallet equal 80 drums we can stuff to 20ft container.
Property | Value |
Assay | 37 – 38 % |
Free acid (as HCOOH) | max. 0.03 % |
Methanol (GC) | 10 – 15 Vol.% |
APHA | max. 10 |
Property | Value |
Vapor Density | 1.03 (vs air) |
Contains | 10-15% methanol as stabilizer |
Vapor Pressure | 52 mmHg ( 37 °C) |
Autoignition Temperature | 572 °F |
Density | 1.09 g/mL at 25 °C(lit.) |
Boiling point | 93 – 96 °C |
Freezing point | < -15 °C |
Density | 1.080 – 1.090 g/cm3 |
Property | Value |
Flashpoint | 64 °C |
Hazard Class | 8 |
Package Group | III |
UN ID | 2209 |