Formaldehyde → Phosphoric Acid

Participants

Reaction Steps

189 grams of 95% paraformaldehyde (6 moles) were dissolved in the heat in 1000 grams of methanol with addition of 1 gram of sodium hydroxide and the mixture heated to reflux. Then in an interval of 1 hour there were added in 3 equal portions 1098 grams of a hot guanidine dihydrogen phosphate solution, which previously was produced from 540 grams of guanidine carbonate (3 moles) and 692 grams of 85% phosphoric acid (6 moles). After the end of the last addition, the mixture was heated for a further 3 hours at reflux, then cooled and drawn off. The solution contained 49.0% solids, 43.7% methanol and 7.3% water.

Provenance & Evidence