Formic acid 64-18-6

Formic acid 64-18-6 is one of the basic organic chemical raw materials, widely used in the pesticide, leather, textile, dyeing, pharmaceutical, and rubber industries, among others. It can also be used to produce various solvents, plasticizers, rubber coagulants, animal feed additives, and insulin synthesized using new processes. In China, the pharmaceutical industry accounts for approximately 45% of formic acid consumption, the chemical industry accounts for approximately 30%, and the light industry, textile industry, and other sectors account for approximately 25%. Formic acid is one of China’s important export chemical products.

Currently, all formic acid production in China uses the sodium formate method. Formic acid is commonly used as a cheap substitute for inorganic acids with lower volatility and corrosion, and is widely used in the light industry. In the textile and dyeing industries, formic acid is used as an agent to eliminate nitrous acid gas produced by the sodium nitrite method, as a dyeing aid for weak acidic dyes and neutral complex dyes, and as a dyeing aid for reactive dyes on nylon. Formic acid does not remain on the fabric during the dyeing process. It has a stronger acidity than acetic acid and can reduce hexavalent chromium, thereby improving dye utilization in the chromium mordanting process.

Replacing sulfuric acid with formic acid avoids cellulose degradation, and its moderate acidity ensures uniform dyeing, making it an excellent dyeing aid. Formic acid is used as a substitute for inorganic acids in tanning for decolorization, hair removal, neutralizing lime, and preventing mold growth in wet leather. Using formic acid as a coagulant improves the quality of natural rubber, reduces production costs, and can also be used for the regeneration of waste rubber. Formic acid has great potential as a feed additive in silage feed.

Formic acid has the function of inhibiting or preventing mold growth, altering the natural fermentation form of feed, and is often added with fatty acids to enhance anti-mold effects. Feeding formic acid-treated green feed to dairy cows can prevent winter milk production declines and significantly improve fattening effects. In the food industry, formic acid is used for disinfection and preservation in the brewing industry, as a cleaning and disinfection agent for canned foods, and as a preservative for juices and foods.

A large number of formic acid derivatives serve as intermediates in the production of pharmaceuticals, pesticides, dyes, fragrances, and solvents, used in the manufacture of camphor, aminopyrine, caffeine, vitamin B1, analgin, insecticides, powdered rust inhibitors, triazoles, dimethylformamide, and others. Among formic acid derivatives, substituted formamides and formate esters are most widely used in industry. (For derivatives of formamide, see the entry for that compound).

Formic acid esters have a wide range of applications in the fragrance industry, such as: ethyl formate—peach, berry, and other fruit essences; isopentyl formate—fruit essences and leather fragrances; hexyl formate—apple essence; heptyl formate—for fruit essences such as apricot, plum, and peach; decyl formate—for orange blossom essence and iris oil; benzyl formate—for floral essences such as jasmine and soap essences; cinnamyl formate—for essences such as jasmine and moonflower;

Citronellyl formate — used in rose, osmanthus, wild lily, and other fruit essences; Eugenyl formate — used in carnation essence, etc.; Geranyl formate — used in rose, orange blossom, geranium, and other fruit essences; Linalyl formate — used in lavender, bergamot, and other fruit essences; Methyl formate — cosmetic fragrances and spray fragrances; Phenethyl formate — fragrances for white rose, orchid, chrysanthemum, etc.; Thymol formate — cosmetic fragrances.