Patent ID: 7381851
Filing Date: 2008-06-03
Classification: B01J,C07C,F28D,F28F

Abstract:
1. A process for preparing formaldehyde by gas-phase oxidation of methanol vapor by means of a gas stream comprising molecular oxygen in the presence of a fixed-bed catalyst comprising iron and molybdenum, wherein the process is carried out in a reactor having heat-exchange plates which are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the reactor and have a spacing between them and through which a heat transfer medium flows, inlet and outlet facilities for the heat transfer medium to the heat-exchange plates and also gaps between heat-exchange plates in which the fixed-bed catalyst is present and into which the methanol vapor and the gas stream comprising molecular oxygen are passed, wherein the reactor is cylindrical and the heat-exchange plates are arranged radially to leave a central space and a peripheral channel free in the cylindrical reactor and the gas stream comprising methanol vapor and molecular oxygen is fed radially into the gap between the heat-exchange plates.