Patent ID: 8703089

Claim:
A method of making gaseous carbon monoxide comprising: degassing liquid formic acid producing degassed liquid formic acid or degassing gaseous formic acid producing degassed gaseous formic acid; reacting the degassed liquid formic acid or the degassed gaseous formic acid with a liquid mineral acid at an elevated temperature producing a gas phase comprising carbon monoxide gas and water vapor and a liquid phase according to the equations HCOOH(liq.)→CO( g )+H 2 O( v ), or, HCOOH( g )→CO( g )+H 2 O( v ), condensing the gas phase producing liquid water and carbon monoxide gas; Scrubbing the carbon monoxide gas producing a scrubbed carbon monoxide gas; chilling the scrubbed carbon monoxide gas to a temperature in the range of −30 C to −90 C producing a scrubbed and chilled carbon monoxide gas; and, compressing the scrubbed and chilled carbon monoxide gas; wherein the method is performed in at least the substantial absence of metallic nickel, metallic iron, nickel-containing alloys, and, iron-containing alloys from contacting any of the liquids or gases, wherein the Fe(CO) 5 content is less than 1 ppb, wherein the Ni(CO) 4 content is less than 10 ppb, wherein the water moisture content is less than 5 ppm, and, wherein the CO 2 content is less than 2 ppm.