PRODUCTION OF FORMIC ACID THROUGH AUTOXIDATION OF GLUCOSE

• Main Author: Detriani, Melyana
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/76274
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Formic acid is one of the carboxylic acids with the simplest structure which was first discovered in the Formica rufa ant species. Formic acid can encourage a net zero carbon transition due to its ability to store hydrogen in a smaller volume of storage media and is easily transported without the need for special treatment because it is liquid at room temperature. Literature research states that formic acid can be produced quantitatively by the oxidation of glucose with hydrogen peroxide oxidizer. Hydrogen peroxide can be generated directly from the air in water with the help of Mn without causing the Fenton reaction. However, Mn can only oxidize air at a pH greater than 8 and it takes a long time. Therefore, Cu is needed to accelerate oxygen capture. In this research, autoxidation of glucose to formic acid was carried out using air as an oxidizer and Cu(II)-Mn(II) pyrophosphate catalyst. The variable factors that were varied were the molar ratio of copper to the total catalyst of 1%, 5%, 10%, and 50%, the type and the Mg:Ca ratio of the drying agent used in the glucose autoxidation reaction, namely a mixture of CaCl2 and MgCl2 with the ratio 1:1; 1:1,5; 1:2; and 1:2.5, as well as a mixture of CaCl2 and MgSO4 with a ratio of 1:0.0029. Another variable factor is the addition of Cu in the catalyst used in the glucose oxidation reaction. This study aims to determine the effect of these factors on the recovery of methyl formate and the rate of autoxidation reactions. This experiment was carried out by adding glucose with a catalyst, amine, drying agent, and base into methanol. The catalyst in this experiment was added to amines and bases. The glucose solution was injected with air and distilled at 63 – 67 oC while stirring. The distillate is collected in an Erlenmeyer flask. The distillate will be tested titimetry to determine the acquisition of methyl formate. Based on this research, it is known that Mn acetate without the addition of Cu is a catalyst that is more suitable for use in the autoxidation of glucose to methyl formate. It is also known that the best drying agents used are CaCl2 and MgCl2 with a 1:1 ratio with a 16.67% yield of methyl formate and a reaction rate of 9 hours.