Measures against the Acidity of Raw Furfural

The preceding chapter has shown that acids arriving in the side stream of the azeotropic column of a furfural plant end up in the raw furfural, thus requiring a respective neutralization. Inasmuch, however, as preventing a disease is better than healing it, it is decidedly preferable to prevent the acids from getting up there in the first place. 

To deal with this problem, consideration must be given to the vapor/liquid equilibria in the water/acetic acid and the water/formic acid systems. 

The dashed line represents the linear approximation for low acetic acid concentrations (high water concentrations). 

The azeotrope boils at 107.6 C (higher than both components). 

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