Is formaldehyde oxidized by hydrogen peroxide to formic acid and is this means of safe disposal? I was thinking...
CH2O + H2O2 --> CHOOH + H2O
CHOOH + NaOH --> CHOONa + H2O
The remaining sodium formate could somehow be easier to dispose? What happens when a NaOH solution is added to a formaldehyde solution?mick - 11-11-2005 at 13:20
If formaldehyde and alkali is anything like acetaldehyde and alkali in water then you could end up with some plasticy stuff that still smells of the
aldehyde, takes ages to set,still smells and sticks to everthing when finally drying out and setting. Acetone dissolved the residue.
I am not sure if this is right but I read that the reaction of formaldehyde and ammonia in the right quantities produces a good fertilizer. It
certainly kills the smell of formaldehyde and probably makes it more biodegradable.
mickThe_Davster - 11-11-2005 at 13:31
For disposal you could react with ammonia, allow water to evaporate off and then either keep the hexamine formed or just burn it, it is used as a
camping fuel after all.hydrargirum - 11-11-2005 at 18:34
Quote:
Whats happens when NaOH solution is added to a formaldehyde solution?
I have understood that HCHO reacts with solution of NaOH
according to:
2HCHO + NaOH ------> CH3OH + HCOONa
(Cannizzaro Reaction)ADP - 12-11-2005 at 06:53
