The Saudi Formaldeyhyde Company Factory

    Methanol                      Oxygen                                             Formaldehyde

Processes for production of formaldehyde from methanol were the first developed and are still the major source of commercial formaldehyde. The reaction above demonstrates how this occurs. Catlysts used include copper, molybdeum alloy, platinum or silver

Commercially, formaldehyde is manufactured in the form of an aqueous solution containing 37% by weight of dissolved formaldehyde. In this form, it is called Formalin. Unless a solvent such as 1% methanol is used, formaldehyde will polymerise at higher concentrations. Heating is also required to prevent precipitation of the polymer.

                     Foarmaldehyde                Water                      Formalin