Patent ID: 8513470

Claim:
A process for the fixed bed oxidation of methanol to formaldehyde wherein the catalytic bed comprises at least two layers having different catalytic activity, of which the layer of lower activity is comprised within the part of the bed from which the reactant gas mixture enters, and its activity is calibrated to obtain in the hot spot zone of the layer a maximum hot spot temperature comprised in the range from 350° C. to 430° C., and being higher than the maximum hot spot temperature present in the layer of greater activity wherein, during the period of said situation of the maximum hot spot temperature, the conversion of methanol is higher than 96% by mols, and wherein the catalyst used in the layers of different catalytic activity is a molybdate of formula Fe 2 (MoO 4 ) 3 /MoO 3 , wherein the Mo/Fe ratio is from 1 to 6.