Glycolic acid from para-formaldehyde or trioxane and formic acid - effected in liq. phase, avoiding high pressure and use of carbon mon:oxide

摘要

Glycolic acid is prepd. by heating paraformaldehyde and/or trioxane in the liq. phase at 70-200 (90-180) degrees C with formic acid in the presence of strongly acidic catalysts (e.g. H2SO4). Reaction is at normal pressure, or at an excess pressure of only 20-30 bars when the reaction temp. is the b.pt. of formic acid. The risks of working with CO, as in previous processes, are avoided. Aq, glycolic acid solns. are used in processing textiles, leather and furs, in cleaning and plating metals, in disinfecting dairy plant, in purifying drinking water sources, and in adjusting the pH of boiler water.