FORMOSE - The demonstration of the environmental benefits of a new chemical process (Formose), capable of 100% reduction of formaldehyde from industrial effluent waste streams

The overall objective of the project was to contribute to a 99% reduction of formaldehyde (HCHO) in industrial wastewater streams using a process reliant upon the formose reaction. The idea was to test the process in a full-scale plant to demonstrate that the introduction of a new technology – the continuous formose process – would lead to a less than 10 mg/L level of formaldehyde in the Dequest Amino effluent discharge, with investment costs substantially lower than for a bio-treatment plant, the Best Available Technique (BAT) for wastewater treatment. The tested technique managed to achieve a formaldehyde reduction of higher than 99%. The process can be used for either batch or continuous effluent streams and can be replicated for any industry where formaldehyde is an issue whatever the quantity.