Patent ID: 7179388
Filing Date: 2007-02-20
Classification: C07C

Abstract:
1. A method of selectively at least partly removing formic acid from an aqueous solution comprising formic acid, cyclohexanone and cyclohexanol, with the amount of formic acid being equal to or higher than the amount of the cyclohexanone or the amount of the cyclohexanol and the amount of the formic acid being at least 2% by weight, which comprises decomposing the formic acid over a basic metal oxide of metals of groups 2, 4, 5, 12 and/or 14 or over a noble metal of groups 8–11 at a concentration sufficient for chemical decomposition of the formic acid wherein the aqueous solution comprising formic acid, cyclohexanone and cyclohexanol is obtained by extraction of the product gas mixture obtained in the oxidation of cyclohexane by means of oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas using an aqueous scrubbing liquid and distiallation of the resulting aqueous carboxylic acid solution.