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| HS Code | 291692 |
| Chemical Name | Formic Acid |
| Chemical Formula | HCOOH |
| Cas Number | 64-18-6 |
| Molar Mass | 46.03 g/mol |
| Appearance | Colorless liquid with a pungent odor |
| Density | 1.220 g/cm3 (20 °C) |
| Melting Point | 8.4 °C |
| Boiling Point | 100.8 °C |
| Solubility In Water | Miscible |
| Pka | 3.75 |
| Flash Point | 69 °C (closed cup) |
| Vapor Pressure | 4.8 kPa (20 °C) |
As an accredited Formic Acid factory, we enforce strict quality protocols—every batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure consistent efficacy and safety standards.
| Packing | Formic acid 85% supplied in 25 L HDPE jerrican, UN-approved, with secure closure, hazard labelling and child-resistant cap. |
| Container Loading (20′ FCL) | Formic acid is packed in UN-approved drums/pails for 20′ FCL, securely braced, sealed, and labeled for safe, leak-free transport. |
| Shipping | Formic acid is a corrosive, hazardous chemical (UN1779, Class 8) requiring UN-certified packaging, such as plastic drums or IBCs. Shipments need proper hazard labeling, dangerous goods documentation, and segregation from incompatible substances. Transport by road, rail, or sea must follow international regulations to ensure safe handling and delivery. |
| Storage | Store formic acid in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from heat, ignition sources, and sunlight. Use tightly sealed containers of compatible materials such as HDPE, glass, or lined steel, placed within secondary containment. Keep separated from oxidizers, bases, and reactive metals to prevent hazardous reactions. |
| Shelf Life | Formic acid has a shelf life of approximately two years when stored unopened in its original container, kept cool, dry, and away from light. |
The pickle drum receives formic acid, typically supplied as 85% or 94% aqueous solution, after deliming and bating of the pelt, where its role is not limited to pH reduction but to the control of acid penetration and pelt swelling in short-float conditions below 0.8 L/kg. Formic acid has a pKa of 3.75 at 25°C, and its monoprotic dissociation maintains a narrow buffer zone between pH 2.8 and 3.2; this avoids the sharp pH drop and localized grain damage associated with sulfuric acid alone. In drum processing, the acid is prediluted at 1:5 to 1:10 with water and metered into the running drum over 15–20 min. Dosage is calculated on soaked pelt weight: the working range is 0.3–0.8 wt% of 85% formic acid relative to pelt mass, combined with 0.6–1.0 wt% sulfuric acid to reach the target pickle pH of 2.8–3.2. In low-float systems, the upper half of this formic acid range is used because residual sulfate from excess sulfuric acid contributes to uneven chrome uptake and increases neutral salts in the spent float. Compliance in EU tanneries is governed by the REACH exposure scenario for formic acid under Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 and by leather chemical test methods ISO 4045:2018 for pH and difference figure and ISO 2418:2017 for sampling location; chromium content in finished leather is audited according to IULTCS/IUC 8. Downstream, the pickled pelt enters a chrome tanning drum where basification with magnesium oxide or sodium bicarbonate raises pH to 3.6–4.0; residual formic acid moderates the basification curve and prevents rapid chromium hydroxide precipitation on the grain surface. Terminal finished product types include chrome-tanned bovine shoe upper leather, upholstery leather, sheepskin glove leather, and split leather for work gloves, with the acid selection directly affecting grain smoothness and dyeing uniformity in subsequent wet-finishing.
In exhaust dyeing operations for polyamide 6.6 and wool with acid dyes and 1:2 metal-complex dyes, formic acid is used to shift the dye bath from an initial alkaline or neutral state to pH 4.0–5.5 without introducing sulfate ions that compete with dye anions at the fibre surface. The acid is metered as an 85% solution at 0.5–1.5 g/L of bath volume, or 1–3% on weight of fibre in laboratory exhaustion trials, following the addition of the electrolyte and levelling agent. Dosing is split into an initial portion at 40°C to minimise dye strike and a second portion after the bath has reached 95–98°C for wool or 105°C in the case of polyamide 6.6 in pressurised jet equipment; this staged addition promotes migration rather than surface adsorption. The downstream production process is typically a low-liquor-ratio jet or over-flow machine operating between 1:6 and 1:12, with circulation pump pressure held below 2.0 bar to prevent fibre damage. Finished fabric pH is verified under ISO 3071:2020; a direct skin contact article is commonly accepted in the range pH 4.0–7.5, while effluent pH and COD limits are set under the site discharge permit transposing Directive 2010/75/EU. Formic acid is not listed as a restricted substance in the ZDHC MRSL, but wastewater treatment operators must account for elevated COD from formate ion. Terminal finished product types include automotive interior knit fabrics, wool carpet yarn, technical webbing for filter media, and protein-fibre outerwear fabrics; the acid dose above 2.0 g/L is not recommended for wool at the boil because exhaustion rate exceeds migration rate and produces unlevel adsorption.
Forage harvester and baler application of formic acid at 85% targets the initial aerobic phase when plant respiration and competing Clostridial activity determine final silage quality. The acid is applied at 2–5 L/t fresh matter, equivalent to 0.2–0.5 wt% of fresh forage, with the dose adjusted by dry matter content: above 35% dry matter, 2–3 L/t is sufficient, while forage below 25% dry matter requires 3–5 L/t to achieve an initial pH below 4.2 within 24 h. This rapid drop suppresses Clostridium tyrobutyricum and enterobacterial fermentation that otherwise consumes sugars and produces butyric acid; the residual formate anion continues to inhibit yeast and mould growth during aerobic spoilage at the silage face. The application equipment consists of low-pressure nozzles mounted on the harvester spout or baler pick-up, with calibration checked through a graduated cylinder at the nozzle; dilution with water is avoided when forage moisture is already high because additional water stimulates secondary fermentation. In the EU, formic acid as a silage additive and feed hygiene substance is authorised under Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003, and premixtures for complete feed are labelled with the authorisation number; inclusion rates as a complete feed preservative are typically 0.3–1.0 wt%, mixed in a horizontal ribbon mixer with a coefficient of variation below 5%. The downstream production process involves compacting the treated forage in a bunker silo at a density of 220–260 kg dry matter/m³, sealing with an oxygen-barrier film, and allowing fermentation for 6–8 weeks before feeding. Terminal finished product types include grass silage bales, maize silage for dairy total mixed rations, piglet complete feed, and acidified pig slurry used as organic fertiliser. All dosing lines and storage tanks are specified in 316L stainless steel or high-density polyethylene because formic acid corrodes carbon steel.
When bottomhole static temperature exceeds 120°C, formic acid-based carbonate stimulation fluids are selected in matrix acidizing designs because the reaction rate of 15% HCl with calcite becomes so fast that the acid is spent within centimetres of the wellbore, requiring corrosion inhibitor loadings that reduce inhibitor stability and present mixing hazards. Formic acid is typically blended at 5–10 wt% of the treatment fluid, often with 0.2–1.0 vol% of a high-temperature corrosion inhibitor, 0.5–1.0 vol% of iron control agent, and a non-emulsifier in the case of crude-bearing carbonate intervals. The reaction with calcite proceeds as CaCO3 + 2HCOOH → Ca(HCOO)2 + CO2 + H2O, yielding calcium formate that remains water-soluble and reduces reprecipitation compared with calcium sulfate in sulfate-containing brines. Injection is performed by coiled tubing or bullheading at matrix rates below the fracture gradient, with surface pressure continuously monitored against the estimated bottomhole fracture pressure; treatment volumes are staged in alternating acid and brine spacers to maximise wormhole penetration. Corrosion qualification is performed under ASTM G31-21 at the bottomhole static temperature for 6 h, with a commonly applied acceptance threshold of 0.05 lb/ft² mass loss, though operator-specific criteria may be stricter depending on tubing grade. Materials for sour service are specified under NACE MR0175/ISO 15156, and acid handling on location follows API Recommended Practice 54; personnel exposure limits for formic acid vapour are maintained at or below the OSHA PEL of 5 ppm at the mixing tank. This fluid is not suitable for sandstone formations because it does not dissolve quartz or feldspar and will leave carbonate-rich zones preferentially treated. Terminal production outputs include crude oil and natural gas from limestone and dolomite wells, condensate from deep carbonate gas-condensate reservoirs, and restored injection capacity in saltwater disposal wells where near-wellbore calcite scale has reduced injectivity.
Closed-loop clean-in-place circuits handling milkstone, calcium oxalate, and beerstone in dairy evaporators and brewery fermenters use formic acid-based descalers because the acid dissolves calcium carbonate and calcium oxalate without generating sulfate scale. Working solutions are prepared at 5–15 wt% formic acid with a corrosion inhibitor and a low-foam wetting agent, circulated at 40–60°C for 20–45 min, then flushed with potable water until the rinse pH returns above 5.0. The descaling action is slower than nitric acid or phosphoric acid, but the pKa of 3.75 and the solubility of calcium formate at approximately 16 g/100 mL at 20°C reduce precipitation in plate heat exchangers with channel gaps of 0.5–1.0 mm. The circulation pump is sized for turbulent flow at a Reynolds number above 10,000; low-flow conditions in narrow plates leave acid-depleted boundary layers that allow scale islands to remain. In food and beverage facilities, materials of construction are 316L stainless steel and EPDM or PTFE elastomer seals; zinc, galvanised steel, and aluminium components must be isolated because formic acid corrodes them. Backflow protection for the potable water supply is specified under EN 1717, and the REACH exposure scenario under Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 requires local exhaust ventilation when heated acid solutions are prepared. The terminal finished product types are cleaned plate heat exchangers, falling film evaporators, brewery conical fermenters, and decalcified coffee extraction systems; after chemical cleaning, a final hot-water rinse verifies the absence of residual acid and prevents product contamination.
During field latex collection, ammonia-preserved natural rubber latex at pH 10.5–11.0 is treated with formic acid diluted 1:10 with water, and the addition rate is 0.15–0.35 wt% of 85% formic acid relative to latex volume to bring the serum pH to 4.0–4.5. Dosing below pH 3.8 accelerates coagulum formation but increases residual acid in the rubber phase, which raises ash content and reduces tensile strength in the dried rubber; dosing above pH 4.8 leaves serum and produces soft, non-uniform crumbs in the creping mill. The downstream production process starts with strained field latex in coagulation tanks, followed by slow agitation during acid addition, coagulum maturation for 2–4 h, pressing through creper rolls, granulation into crumbs, washing, and drying in deep-bed dryers at 110–125°C. Compliance for the input latex is tested under ISO 2004:2017 for ammonia-preserved natural rubber latex concentrate and ASTM D1076-21 for concentrated natural latex; dry rubber grade compliance is checked against ISO 2000:2014 or the national Technically Specified Rubber specification. The terminal finished product types include Technically Specified Rubber grades such as TSR 10 and TSR 20, air-dried sheets, and ribbed smoked sheets; coagulum quality directly affects the plasticity retention index and ash content of the packed bales.
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Formic acid (HCOOH, molar mass 46.03 g/mol, CAS 64-18-6, EINECS 200-579-1, UN 1779) is supplied as a clear, colorless, strongly acidic liquid with the lowest molecular weight among carboxylic acids. Commercial product models are differentiated by nominal acid mass fraction, typically 85 wt%, 90 wt%, 94 wt%, and 99 wt% aqueous solutions, and by trace chloride, sulfate, iron, and non-volatile residue limits. Industrial material is transferred through closed dosing loops, drum and IBC stations, or bulk tanker unloading into glass-lined or 316L stainless steel storage. Formic acid is a reducing monobasic acid with a pKa of 3.75 at 25 °C; this places it between simple mineral acids and acetic acid in ionization tendency, but its reductive capacity creates process properties not available from acetic or propionic acid.
Assay values are typically determined by alkalimetric titration against sodium hydroxide to a phenolphthalein endpoint and are expressed as percent by mass. Density and acidity are monitored during bulk loading with inline Coriolis meters or calibrated glass hydrometers, with an operational target of 1.220 ± 0.005 g/cm³ for 85 wt% product at 20 °C. Trace-metal overages are batch-inspected by ICP-OES or photometric methods; chloride and sulfate are determined turbidimetrically after precipitation. Water content is measured by Karl Fischer titration, with imidazole buffering to suppress acid-base interference. Infrared identification of the carbonyl stretch near 1710 cm⁻¹ and the broad O-H band between 2500 cm⁻¹ and 3500 cm⁻¹ is used for incoming material verification in pharmaceutical and reagent-grade transfers.
| Parameter | 85 wt% grade | 90 wt% grade | 94 wt% grade | 99 wt% grade | Test method |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Formic acid mass fraction | 85.0 min | 90.0 min | 94.0 min | 99.0 min | Alkalimetric titration, GB/T 2093-2011 |
| Chloride as Cl, mg/kg | ≤50 | ≤30 | ≤20 | ≤5 | Turbidimetric comparison |
| Sulfate as SO4, mg/kg | ≤50 | ≤20 | ≤10 | ≤5 | Turbidimetric comparison |
| Iron as Fe, mg/kg | ≤10 | ≤5 | ≤2 | ≤1 | ICP-OES or photometric |
| Non-volatile residue, mg/kg | ≤100 | ≤50 | ≤30 | ≤20 | Gravimetric evaporation |
| Dilution test in water | passes | passes | passes | passes | Visual clarity |
The above limits are representative commercial specifications derived from industrial data sheets and should not be read as universal across all producers. Feed and food-contact lots require lower lead, arsenic, and mercury limits, with supporting documentation aligned with EU Commission Implementing Regulation 2019/866 for formic acid as a feed additive. For bulk storage, high-density polyethylene, polypropylene, PTFE, and 316L stainless steel are accepted wetted materials at ambient temperature; carbon steel is not acceptable because of hydrogen evolution and pitting corrosion. Concentrated product is classified under CLP (EC) No 1272/2008 as Skin Corr. 1A H314 and Acute Tox. 4 H302; anhydrous or high-purity grades may additionally carry Flam. Liq. 3 H226 depending on flash point and water content.
In leather processing, formic acid is dosed during pickling and chrome tannage to depress float pH below 3.0 without the non-coordinating anion burden of sulfuric acid. A typical retanning formulation addition of 0.5–1.5 wt% formic acid based on shaved weight is delivered as a dilute 1:5 aqueous solution over 20–30 minutes in a stainless or polypropylene drum. The acid modifies chromium-complex uptake by controlling the basification step incrementally; hide cross-section pH after basification is commonly maintained between 3.8 and 4.2. Textile dyeing operations use formic acid-dosed acid dyestuff baths for polyamide and wool, where a target pH of 4.0–5.0 is held to slow dye strike and improve levelness. Published data for specific configurations is limited for some dye classes, but dyehouse pH controllers and metering systems are generally configured for 85 wt% feed.
At equal molar concentration, formic acid is approximately ten times more dissociated than acetic acid, a consequence of the pKa difference of 1.01 log units. In operations that use acid for pH adjustment, the mass required for a given titratable acidity is lower than acetic or propionic acid because molar mass is 14.02 g/mol and 28.05 g/mol lower, respectively; the difference is not linear across titration curves due to buffering in the formulation. Formic acid is the only common C1 carboxylic acid that carries a hydrogen atom directly on the carbonyl carbon, which confers reducing-agent character. Acetic and propionic acids are methyl- and ethyl-substituted and are essentially non-reducing under normal process conditions. This difference influences metal descaling: formic acid can reduce ferric ions in spent liquors, whereas acetic acid leaves iron in higher oxidation states and requires separate reducing additives.
| Property | Formic acid | Acetic acid | Propionic acid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Molar mass, g/mol | 46.03 | 60.05 | 74.08 |
| pKa at 25 °C | 3.75 | 4.76 | 4.88 |
| Anhydrous boiling point, °C | 100.8 | 118.1 | 141.2 |
| Density at 20 °C, g/cm³ | 1.220 for 85 wt% | 1.049 for glacial | 0.993 |
| Reducing character under mild conditions | present | absent | absent |
Compared with hydrochloric acid, formic acid introduces no chloride into process streams. Compared with sulfuric acid, it introduces no sulfate and is preferred where sulfate precipitation, such as calcium sulfate scale, is an operational concern. The organic nature of formic acid also allows controlled thermal decomposition under process conditions, whereas mineral acids remain fully ionic. This imposes an operational boundary: formic acid should not be mixed with strong dehydrating acids or hypochlorite bleach because rapid gas evolution and exothermic behavior can occur.
Silage preservation uses formic acid at rates commonly reported from 3 L to 6 L of 85 wt% product per tonne of fresh forage depending on dry matter and buffering capacity. The acid is injected at the forage harvester through stainless steel or polypropylene dosing pumps with rate control tied to yield-sensor mass flow. In anaerobic storage, the rapid pH drop to below 4.3 inhibits clostridial fermentation and reduces dry-matter loss. Feed-additive registrations evaluate formic acid under EU Commission Implementing Regulation 2019/866; analytical verification of active substance content uses acid-base titration after serial dilution. Handling for feed use requires feed-grade lots with lower heavy-metal limits, and bulk tanks should be vented with scrubbers because the vapor is corrosive and has a low odor threshold.
In oilfield acidizing, formic acid is used as a retarded organic acid in high-temperature carbonate reservoirs where hydrochloric acid would corrode tubing or spend too rapidly. The reaction of formic acid with calcium carbonate produces calcium formate, which displays higher aqueous solubility than calcium sulfate at ambient temperature and is less likely to form sulfate scale in the backflow. Calcite dissolution with formic acid is mass-transfer-limited at low pH and is governed by the acid diffusion coefficient, which is lower than that of hydrogen chloride; field treatments therefore commonly use 10–15 wt% formic acid blends with corrosion inhibitors and require an acid-return pH below 5.0 for effective clean-up.
In industrial descaling, 10–20 wt% formic acid circulates through plate heat exchangers and evaporative condensers at 40–60 °C to remove calcium carbonate scale. Stainless steel 316L, polypropylene, PTFE, and EPDM are acceptable wetted materials; carbon steel is not acceptable due to hydrogen evolution and pitting. Published data for specific configurations is limited where scale composition contains silica or sulfate, and mechanical removal remains necessary in those cases.
Rubber coagulation and latex preservation use formic acid as a pH-control agent in natural rubber processing, where controlled pH around 4.5–5.5 reduces coagulation time. In animal feed, formic acid is also combined with ammonium formate or sodium formate in buffered products; these salts reduce corrosivity while retaining antimicrobial activity. Differences from mineral acids in these preservation roles include the absence of sulfate or chloride and the possibility of using the formate ion as a metabolizable carbon unit in monogastric species. Chemical synthesis applications use formic acid as a C1 building block for sodium formate, formate esters, and formamide derivatives. Operational boundaries include an upper storage temperature of 30 °C for 85 wt% product, avoidance of strong bases and hypochlorite, and use of local exhaust ventilation where drums are opened indoors.
