Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Boiling down formaline 20% to 40%

BASF - 14-11-2005 at 13:15

My problem is: I cannot get my hands on normal 37% formaline solution because this would call for a poison permit and lots of paperwork for a private person here.

On the other hand, 20% formaline solution can easily be bought in a drugstore or anywhere else, as the lower concentration is considered less toxic...

I donĀ“t know what happens if i would just attempt to boil it down? - Would it polymerize? Could i, possibly, remove water by azeotropic distillation?

Please help!

[Edited on 14-11-2005 by BASF]

unionised - 15-11-2005 at 13:03

http://www.itt.uni-stuttgart.de/pdfs/2003_ott_cep_dist.pdf

More than you ever want to know about distillation of formaldehyde solutions.

BASF - 15-11-2005 at 13:21

Hey! -Thanks a lot!!:D

S.C. Wack - 15-11-2005 at 15:31

Perhaps vacuum distillation would be best for removing water. I just let my dilute solution sit in a really big glass bowl until the water evaporated completely. From there you can make any strength you want.

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