STUDY ON DIRECT HYDROLYSIS OF METHYL FORMATE TO FORMIC ACID

Both batch reactor and continuous tubular reactor were designed for the hydrolysis of methylformate to formic acid.By the former device,the effects of some reaction conditions,such as reactiontemperature,pressure,water/ester ratio and the addition of methanol and formic acid into the startingmaterial,on the induction period,the equilibrium time and the hydrolysis conversion of methyl formatewere investigated.By the latter device,as the length/diameter ratio of the reaction tube was large,itwas similar to an ideal plug flow reactor.The results obtained from the two reactors on the samereaction were compared.