Technologie Consulting

  • Global expertise in formaldehyde, urea melamine and phenolic resins
  • More profit by better technology
  • Guidence for decision finding
Thomas Schmid

Facts about Formaldehyde

  • For making plastics out of natural gas or coal, the synthesis via methanol and formaldehyde is the currently most economic and most common method.
  • Plastics, made by this method are unique in their characteristics. Most of them cannot be produced by alternative processes.
    • Aminoplasts (UF & MUF Resins)
    • Polyoxymethylene (POM)
    • Resole, Novolacke and Resorcinole (PF, PRF)
    • Isocyanat (pMDI) and Polyurethane (PU)
    • Polyester and Alkyd resins from Penthaeritriol and Trimethylolpropan (TMP)
    • Butandiol (BDO) for Textil fibres (Elasthan, Spandex) etc…
    • Polymethylmethacrylat (PMMA) for acrylic glass
  • Each year, about 110 billion m³ natural gas are flared or vented because of lack of energy consumer in this area (Worldbank report 2004). This corresponds about the gas consumption of Germany and Italy together. To make locally from natural gas methanol as raw material for the chemical industry is a smart and proven method for utilising gas sources in remote locations.
  • Formaldehyde is a naturally occurring, instable compound. It is found in most living organism like plants, animals and human. However, formaldehyde is a poison, requiring professional handling.
  • The world production of formaldehyde has exceeded 40 million tons per year (Source R. S Crichton, calculated as 37% solution) and continues with stabile growth. This is why synthesis via formaldehyde is a modern technology, suitable for the natural gas age.

Facts about MUF Resins

  • Resins for wood panels made from Aminoplasts (UF and MUF Glues) are the most common wood binders.
  • Most plastics are made by 100% from hydrocarbons, sourced from oil, gas or coal.
  • Aminoplasts are likely the most resource friendly plastic. At a typical UF glue, 60% of the molecular weight comes from nitrogen and oxygen, simply taken from air. In practice, nitrogen is introduced via urea or melamine, and oxygen via methanol into the molecule.
  • The result is a low cost and resource friendly construction material. Components like chlorine or heavy metal are not used in aminoplast glues.