News - Research in Germany

Environmentally benign methods for the industrial production of chemicals are urgently needed. LMU researchers recently described such a procedure for the synthesis of formaldehyde, and have now improved it with the aid of machine learning. Formaldehyde is one of the most important feedstocks employed in the chemical industry, and serves as the point of departure for the synthesis of many more complex chemical products. Industrial production of formaldehyde is currently based on a large-scale procedure which consumes fossil fuels and requires a high energy input. More efficient and more sustainable modes of synthesis are therefore urgently needed, which could make a significant contribution to the mitigation of climate.