CATALYST AND METHOD FOR OXIDATION OF FORMALDEHYDE Russian patent published in 2005 - IPC

FIELD: oxidation catalysts.

SUBSTANCE: objective of invention is protection of atmosphere from emissions of formaldehyde as well as treatment of waste waters by oxidizing formaldehyde under nearly ambient conditions. Invention achieves this with polyoxometallate catalyst of general formula Ax[XM'12-nM"nOk]y-, wherein X represents B, Si, or P; M' represents Mo or W; M" represents V, Ce, Co, Zn, or Mn; n=1-6; k=39-41; and A is one or more cations selected from H+, Na+, K+, Cs+, Cd2+, Zn2+, Co2+, Mn2+, and Cu2+, or tetraalkylammonium cation R¹R²R³R⁴N+, wherein R¹-R⁴ are С₁-С₄-alkyls; y is polyanion charge; and x number of cations. Method of oxidizing formaldehyde in aqueous solution with oxygen and/or air at atmospheric pressure in presence of above-defined catalyst at temperature not exceeding 100°C, preferably at 20-60°C, is described.

EFFECT: reduced expenses, simplified oxidation process, avoided environmental pollution, and enabled high-selectivity formation of recoverable formic acid.

8 cl, 5 tbl, 37 ex