Equilibrium speciation in moderately concentrated formaldehyde−methanol−water solutions investigated using 13C and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Gaca, Katarzyna and Parkinson, John and Lue, Leo and Sefcik, Jan (2014) Equilibrium speciation in moderately concentrated formaldehyde−methanol−water solutions investigated using 13C and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research, 53 (22). pp. 9262-9271. ISSN 0888-5885 (https://doi.org/10.1021/ie403252x)

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Abstract

We used 13C and 1H NMR spectroscopy to examine the equilibrium speciation in formaldehyde−methanol−water solutions at moderate formaldehyde concentrations such as those used in the synthesis of formaldehyde-based organic gels. Concentrations of small methylene glycol oligomers and their methoxylated forms found in these solutions were quantitatively determined over a range of formaldehyde concentrations and methanol−water ratios, and at temperatures between 10 and 55 °C. Using the measured concentrations, equilibrium constants for methylene glycol dimer and trimer formation as well as methoxylation of these oligomers were calculated. Based on this, we developed a quantitative equilibrium model for calculation of formaldehyde-related species concentrations over a range compositions relevant for formaldehyde based sol−gel processes allowing for more rational design of formaldehyde polymerization systems.