Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde, also known as methyl aldehyde, methanal, or formal, is used in a variety of applications. Urea-, phenol-, and polyacetal formaldehyde resins account for about 70% of world demand. Other large applications include melamine resins, pentaerythritol, and methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI). Small demand segments include 1,4-butanediol (BDO), hexamethylenetetramine (HMTA), paraformaldehyde, chelating agents, herbicides, pesticides, trimethylolpropane, pyridines, neopentyl glycol, and slow-release fertilizers (SRFs). Formaldehyde is produced from methanol using either a silver or metal oxide (iron-molybdate) catalyst.