METHOD FOR PRODUCING FORMIC ACID

摘要

The invention relates to a method for obtaining formic acid by thermal separation of a stream containing formic acid and a tertiary amine (I), according to which method a liquid stream containing formic acid, methanol, water and tertiary amine (I) is produced in step (a) by bringing together methyl formate, water and tertiary amine (I), methanol is removed therefrom in step (b), and in step (c) formic acid is removed by distillation from the obtained liquid stream in a distillation device, wherein, when bringing together methyl formate, water and tertiary amine (l), methyl formate, water and optionally tertiary amine (I) are initially supplied in step (a1) in a molar ratio of 0 ≤ n(amine to a1) / n(methyl formate to a1) ≤ 0.1 and 70 to 100% of the possible hydrolysis equilibrium is adjusted, and subsequently in step (a2) tertiary amine (I) is supplied in a molar ratio of 0.1 ≤ n(amine to a2) / n(methyl formate to a1) ≤ 2 and the mixture is reacted.