Abstract: In a process for the preparation of aqueous formaldehyde solutions consisting of the following steps:(a) reaction of a methanol/water/air mixture in vapor form at elevated temperature over a catalyst,(b) absorption of the reaction mixture in one or more successive absorption stages with the formation of a methanol-containing aqueous formaldehyde solution and(c) removal by fractional distillation of a fraction esentially containing methanol and water,the methanol/water/air mixture which is required for the reaction is evaporated by means of heat which is withdrawn by indirect heat exchange from the formaldehyde solution being formed in the absorber and/or at least some of the vapors obtained by fractional distillation are condensed by means of liquid water. This condensate is fed together with fresh methanol and with air into the evaporator which is upstream from the catalyst stage.

Abstract: A process has been developed for the oxidation of organic substances, dissolved or dispersed in an aqueous system, with a gas containing molecular oxygen at elevated temperature and under elevated pressure chiefly to carbon dioxide and water, with subsequent phase separation of the reaction mixture into a gaseous phase substantially containing inert gas, carbon dioxide, steam and organic constituents and a liquid phase substantially containing water, characterized in that the pressure is adjusted, at the given temperature, so that by evaporation of water from the aqueous system, more steam than the exothermicity of the oxidation reaction gives rise to, goes into the gaseous phase, which is fed to a heat exchanger in which the amount of heat required to maintain the oxidation temperature is completely or partially transferred to a mixture of water and a gas containing molecular oxygen, which mixture flows in on the other side of the heat exchanger and is subsequently fed to the reactor.