Formic Acid

HCOOH · 46.03 g/mol

HCOOH

Preservative, leather tanning, and hydrogen carrier

Molecular Weight

46.03 g/mol

State

Liquid

Catalyst

Sodium Methoxide base ca

Reactor

High pressure carbonylat

Formic Acid molecular structure — 2D structure

Olefinverbund Integration

Inputs

Methanol, Carbon Monoxide

→

Product

Formic Acid

→

Outputs

Leather Tanning, Preservative

Chemistry & Engineering

Reaction	`CH₃OH + CO → Methyl Formate; Methyl Formate + H₂O → HCOOH + CH₃OH`
Thermodynamics	Carbonylation is exothermic
Catalyst	Sodium Methoxide base catalyst
Reactor class	High pressure carbonylation loop
Note	Methanol is recycled. Simple C1 chemistry route.

Applications

Hydrogen storage/carrier molecule
Leather and textile processing
Silage preservation (agriculture)
Cleaning and descaling agents

Extraterrestrial Production Pattern

Methanol + CO → methyl formate (carbonylation)
Methyl formate hydrolysis → formic acid + methanol
Alternative: Direct CO₂ + H₂ electrochemical reduction
Distillation under reduced pressure

Reaction Diagram

CH3OH + CO -> HCOOCH3; HCOOCH3 + H2O -> HCOOH + CH3OH

Unit Operations

Process steps following chemical engineering unit operation principles

#	Operation	Description
1	Methanol Carbonylation	NaOMe catalyst at 80°C, 40 bar → methyl formate
2	MF Purification	Distill methyl formate
3	Hydrolysis	Hydrolyze MF with water at 80-100°C
4	Acid Separation	Distill to separate HCOOH from MeOH
5	Concentration	Concentrate to 85-99% formic acid
6	Storage	Store in SS or plastic tanks

S88 Batch Control Model

ISA-88 BatchML schema — simplified for educational purposes

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!-- ISA-88 Batch Control Model for Formic Acid -->
<!-- Educational schema - simplified for demonstration -->
<BatchML xmlns="http://www.wbf.org/xml/B2MML-V0600">
  
  <ProcessCell ID="FORMIC_ACID_PLANT_CELL">
    <Description>Process cell for Formic Acid production</Description>
    
    <Unit ID="FORMIC_ACID_PLANT">
      <Description>Main synthesis unit</Description>
      
      <!-- Equipment Modules -->
      <EquipmentModule ID="CARBONYLATOR">
        <Description>Carbonylator</Description>
      </EquipmentModule>
      <EquipmentModule ID="MF_COLUMN">
        <Description>Mf Column</Description>
      </EquipmentModule>
      <EquipmentModule ID="HYDROLYZER">
        <Description>Hydrolyzer</Description>
      </EquipmentModule>
      <EquipmentModule ID="ACID_COLUMN">
        <Description>Acid Column</Description>
      </EquipmentModule>
      <EquipmentModule ID="CONCENTRATOR">
        <Description>Concentrator</Description>
      </EquipmentModule>
      <EquipmentModule ID="STORAGE">
        <Description>Storage</Description>
      </EquipmentModule>
    </Unit>
  </ProcessCell>
  
  <MasterRecipe ID="FORMIC_ACID_PLANT_RECIPE">
    <Description>Master recipe for Formic Acid</Description>
    <ProductID>FORMIC_ACID</ProductID>
    
    <UnitProcedure ID="FORMIC_ACID_PLANT_UP">
      <Description>Unit procedure for synthesis</Description>
      
      <Operation ID="OP_01">
        <Description>Operation 1</Description>
        <Phase ID="CARBONYLATE">
          <Description>Carbonylate phase</Description>
          <PhaseLogic>
            <Step ID="STEP_1"><Action>Initialize</Action></Step>
            <Step ID="STEP_2"><Action>Execute</Action></Step>
            <Step ID="STEP_3"><Action>Complete</Action></Step>
          </PhaseLogic>
        </Phase>
      </Operation>
      
      <Operation ID="OP_02">
        <Description>Operation 2</Description>
        <Phase ID="PURIFY_MF">
          <Description>Purify Mf phase</Description>
          <PhaseLogic>
            <Step ID="STEP_1"><Action>Initialize</Action></Step>
            <Step ID="STEP_2"><Action>Execute</Action></Step>
            <Step ID="STEP_3"><Action>Complete</Action></Step>
          </PhaseLogic>
        </Phase>
      </Operation>
      
      <Operation ID="OP_03">
        <Description>Operation 3</Description>
        <Phase ID="HYDROLYZE">
          <Description>Hydrolyze phase</Description>
          <PhaseLogic>
            <Step ID="STEP_1"><Action>Initialize</Action></Step>
            <Step ID="STEP_2"><Action>Execute</Action></Step>
            <Step ID="STEP_3"><Action>Complete</Action></Step>
          </PhaseLogic>
        </Phase>
      </Operation>
      
      <Operation ID="OP_04">
        <Description>Operation 4</Description>
        <Phase ID="SEPARATE">
          <Description>Separate phase</Description>
          <PhaseLogic>
            <Step ID="STEP_1"><Action>Initialize</Action></Step>
            <Step ID="STEP_2"><Action>Execute</Action></Step>
            <Step ID="STEP_3"><Action>Complete</Action></Step>
          </PhaseLogic>
        </Phase>
      </Operation>
      
      <Operation ID="OP_05">
        <Description>Operation 5</Description>
        <Phase ID="CONCENTRATE">
          <Description>Concentrate phase</Description>
          <PhaseLogic>
            <Step ID="STEP_1"><Action>Initialize</Action></Step>
            <Step ID="STEP_2"><Action>Execute</Action></Step>
            <Step ID="STEP_3"><Action>Complete</Action></Step>
          </PhaseLogic>
        </Phase>
      </Operation>
      
      <Operation ID="OP_06">
        <Description>Operation 6</Description>
        <Phase ID="STORE">
          <Description>Store phase</Description>
          <PhaseLogic>
            <Step ID="STEP_1"><Action>Initialize</Action></Step>
            <Step ID="STEP_2"><Action>Execute</Action></Step>
            <Step ID="STEP_3"><Action>Complete</Action></Step>
          </PhaseLogic>
        </Phase>
      </Operation>
    </UnitProcedure>
  </MasterRecipe>
  
</BatchML>

Process CellPhysical grouping of all production equipment

UnitMajor equipment performing the synthesis

Equipment ModulesIndividual devices: reactors, columns, absorbers

PhasesLowest control level: REACT, SEPARATE, PURIFY

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