The first aspect of the present invention is intended to provide a method for producing an oxidation reaction product of the hydrocarbon or a derivative thereof efficiently using hydrocarbon or a derivative thereof as a raw material. In order to achieve the above object, the first aspect of the present invention provides a method for producing an oxidation reaction product of a hydrocarbon or a derivative thereof. The method includes the step of irradiating a reaction system with light in the presence of a raw material and a chlorine dioxide radical. The raw material is hydrocarbon or a derivative thereof, the reaction system is a reaction system containing an organic phase, and the organic phase contains the raw material and the chlorine dioxide radical. In the step of irradiating a reaction system with light, the raw material is oxidized by the light irradiation to generate an oxidation reaction product of the raw material.

The first aspect of the present invention is intended to provide a method for producing an oxidation reaction product of the hydrocarbon or a derivative thereof efficiently using hydrocarbon or a derivative thereof as a raw material. In order to achieve the above object, the first aspect of the present invention provides a method for producing an oxidation reaction product of a hydrocarbon or a derivative thereof. The method includes the step of irradiating a reaction system with light in the presence of a raw material and a chlorine dioxide radical. The raw material is hydrocarbon or a derivative thereof, the reaction system is a reaction system containing an organic phase, and the organic phase contains the raw material and the chlorine dioxide radical. In the step of irradiating a reaction system with light, the raw material is oxidized by the light irradiation to generate an oxidation reaction product of the raw material.

An apparatus for the production of formaldehyde is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a cooled tubular reactor section (8, 108, 208, 308, 408, 508) having a first inlet, a first outlet and a plurality of tubes each having a first end in fluid communication with the first inlet and a second end in fluid communication with the first outlet. The plurality of tubes contain a first catalyst for the production of formaldehyde by oxidative dehydrogenation. The apparatus is characterised in that the apparatus further comprises a pre-reactor section (7, 107, 207, 307, 407, 507). The pre-reactor section (7, 107, 207, 307, 407, 507) has an inlet. The pre-reactor section (7, 107, 207, 307, 407, 507) has an outlet in fluid communication with the first inlet of the cooled tubular reactor section (8, 108, 208, 308, 408, 508). The pre-reactor section (7, 107, 207, 307, 407, 507) is configured to contain, in use, an adiabatic catalyst bed. The adiabatic catalyst bed comprises a second catalyst for the production of formaldehyde by catalytic oxidative dehydrogenation.

An apparatus for the production of formaldehyde is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a cooled tubular reactor section (8, 108, 208, 308, 408, 508) having a first inlet, a first outlet and a plurality of tubes each having a first end in fluid communication with the first inlet and a second end in fluid communication with the first outlet. The plurality of tubes contain a first catalyst for the production of formaldehyde by oxidative dehydrogenation. The apparatus is characterised in that the apparatus further comprises a pre-reactor section (7, 107, 207, 307, 407, 507). The pre-reactor section (7, 107, 207, 307, 407, 507) has an inlet. The pre-reactor section (7, 107, 207, 307, 407, 507) has an outlet in fluid communication with the first inlet of the cooled tubular reactor section (8, 108, 208, 308, 408, 508). The pre-reactor section (7, 107, 207, 307, 407, 507) is configured to contain, in use, an adiabatic catalyst bed. The adiabatic catalyst bed comprises a second catalyst for the production of formaldehyde by catalytic oxidative dehydrogenation.

An apparatus for the production of formaldehyde is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a cooled tubular reactor section (8, 108, 208, 308, 408, 508) having a first inlet, a first outlet and a plurality of tubes each having a first end in fluid communication with the first inlet and a second end in fluid communication with the first outlet. The plurality of tubes contain a first catalyst for the production of formaldehyde by oxidative dehydrogenation. The apparatus is characterised in that the apparatus further comprises a pre-reactor section (7, 107, 207, 307, 407, 507). The pre-reactor section (7, 107, 207, 307, 407, 507) has an inlet. The pre-reactor section (7, 107, 207, 307, 407, 507) has an outlet in fluid communication with the first inlet of the cooled tubular reactor section (8, 108, 208, 308, 408, 508). The pre-reactor section (7, 107, 207, 307, 407, 507) is configured to contain, in use, an adiabatic catalyst bed. The adiabatic catalyst bed comprises a second catalyst for the production of formaldehyde by catalytic oxidative dehydrogenation.

The present disclosure provides, inter alia, methods for preparing formaldehyde from carbon dioxide using bis(silyl)acetals, methods for incorporating carbon derived from carbon dioxide into a complex organic molecule derived from formaldehyde using bis(silyl)acetals, and methods for generating an isotopologue of a complex organic molecule derived from formaldehyde using bis(silyl)acetals.

The present disclosure provides, inter alia, methods for preparing formaldehyde from carbon dioxide using bis(silyl)acetals, methods for incorporating carbon derived from carbon dioxide into a complex organic molecule derived from formaldehyde using bis(silyl)acetals, and methods for generating an isotopologue of a complex organic molecule derived from formaldehyde using bis(silyl)acetals.

Disclosed are methods for dehydrating a water containing source of formaldehyde in which water is separated from the water containing source of formaldehyde using a zeolite membrane. In certain aspects, the water containing source of formaldehyde includes a separation enhancer having a relative static permittivity ranging from 2.5 to 20, and the water containing source of formaldehyde may further include methanol. In certain aspects, (meth)acrylic acid alkyl ester may be produced using the dehydrated source of formaldehyde.

Disclosed are methods for dehydrating a water containing source of formaldehyde in which water is separated from the water containing source of formaldehyde using a zeolite membrane. In certain aspects, the water containing source of formaldehyde includes a separation enhancer having a relative static permittivity ranging from 2.5 to 20, and the water containing source of formaldehyde may further include methanol. In certain aspects, (meth)acrylic acid alkyl ester may be produced using the dehydrated source of formaldehyde.

A process for purification of a crude product stream recovered from the production of acrylic acid by an aldolisation reaction is disclosed. The product stream comprises acrylic acid, formaldehyde, water, non-condensable vapours and optionally heavy by-products. The process comprises: providing the crude product stream in the vapour phase to a first separation column operated at a temperature and pressure to form an intermediate overhead stream comprising water, formaldehyde and methanol; and passing said intermediate overhead stream to a formaldehyde separation column operated at a temperature and pressure to enable a stream having a higher formaldehyde concentration than the formaldehyde concentration in the intermediate overhead stream to be formed and recovered from at or near the bottom of the formaldehyde separation column as a formaldehyde enriched stream.