Formic acid

Formic acid belongs to saturated monobasic carboxylic acids.

Ant (differently – metane) acid represents uncolored liquid, soluble in benzene, acetone, glycerin and toluene.

As nutritional supplement formic acid is registered as E236.

Formic acid received use in:

• To medicine, as outside anesthetic;
• Agriculture where it is widely used for preparation of forages. It slows down course of processes of disintegration and rotting that promotes longer preservation of hay and a silo;
• Chemical industry as solvent;
• The textile industry for wool coloring;
• The food industry as preservative;
• Beekeeping, as means for fight against parasites.

The Sintez chemical company is an official distributor of the BASF company on supply of Formic acid to Russia.

Properties of formic acid

Properties of formic acid depend on its concentration. So, it agrees the classification accepted by the European Union, safe and rendering the irritating effect formic acid concentration to 10% is considered, big concentration has already corroding effect.

Thus, the concentrated formic acid at hit on skin can cause severe burns and pain.

The contact with its concentrated couples as formic acid at inhalation can lead to injury of airways, and also an eye is also unsafe. At accidental hit inside it leads to development of a heavy necrotic gastroenteritis.

One more property of formic acid is its ability to be removed quickly by an organism, without collecting in it.

Receiving formic acid

Chemical formula of formic acid – HCOOH.

For the first time it was succeeded to allocate it from red forest ants (belly glands) to the English naturalist John Reyem in the 17th century. Except these insects from whom she also received the name formic acid in the nature is in some plants (a nettle, needles), fruit, and also in caustic allocations of bees.

Formic acid only in the 19th century was artificially synthesized by the French scientist Joseph Gay-Lussac.

The most widespread method of receiving formic acid is its allocation as a by-product by production of acetic acid which happens liquid-phase oxidation of butane.

Besides, receiving formic acid is possible:

• As a result of a chemical change of oxidation of methanol;
• By method of decomposition of glyceric ethers of oxalic acid.

Use of formic acid in the food industry

In the food industry formic acid (E236) is generally used as additive at production of tinned vegetables. It slows down development of the pathogenic environment both pleseny in tinned and fermented vegetables.

Also it is used in production of soft drinks, as a part of fish marinades and other acid fish products.

Besides, it is often applied to disinfection of barrels for wine and beer.

Use of formic acid in medicine

In medicine formic acid is applied as antiseptic, clearing and an anesthetic, and in certain cases – as bactericidal and antiinflammatory.

The modern pharmacological industry produces formic acid in the form of 1,4% of spirit solution for external use (in bottles of 50 or 100 ml). This outside drug concerns to group of drugs with irritating and analgeziruyushchy properties.

Formic acid at external use has the distracting effect, and also improves food of fabrics and causes vasodilatation.

The indication to use of formic acid in the form of spirit solution is:

• Neuralgia;
• Miositis;
• Arthralgia;
• Mialgiya;
• Nonspecific mono - and polyarthritises.

Contraindications to use of formic acid is hypersensitivity to connection and injury of skin to a site of application.

In addition to spirit solution this acid is used for preparation of ointments, for example, Muravyita. It is applied at the same indications, as ant alcohol, and also at treatment:

• Various injuries, bruises, changes, bruises;
• Varicosity;
• Fungus diseases;
• Spots, eels, and also as skin clearer.

In traditional medicine thanks to the soothing properties formic acid was used long since for treatment:

• Rheumatism;
• Gouts;
• Radiculitis.

It was used in the structures stimulating growth of hair and as means from a pediculosis.