L42L (Stranger)
05-17-04 19:34
No 507724
       Formalin to para-formaldehyde polymerization?     

Formalin to para-formaldehyde polymerization?  

how to do.
acid, base, distill, heat, chill.....?
thanks bees. 		 
 
 
 
    Rhodium
(Chief Bee)
05-17-04 21:06
No 507742
       Formaldehyde polymerization     

Formaldehyde polymerization is acid-catalyzed and takes place spontaneously (with the evolution of heat) in aqueous solutions. Commercial formalin solutions contains methanol as a polymerization inhibitor, so I assume you need to remove it somehow.
The Hive - Clandestine Chemists Without Borders 		 
 
 
 
    L42L
(Stranger)
05-18-04 03:17
No 507816
       thats a start!     

Cool, now I know it is acid catalyized. I guess one could try hitting it with a bunch of aqueous HCL and see what happins. Any bee have any other thoughts?

Thanks