Unsafe food consumption results in 600 million cases of foodborne diseases and about 420,000 deaths worldwide, a WHO report suggests. Moreover, 1.35 million of these infections, as cited by CDC, are likely to be caused by the Salmonella bacteria, resulting in approximately 26,500 hospitalizations and 420 deaths in the United States.
Considering the prevalence and far-reaching impact of this foodborne pathogen, incorporating strategies to alleviate the presence of the bacteria in animals is a practical and viable solution to the problem. In this regard, the use of organic acids in animal feed can act as a key resort to inhibit the bacteria and prevent future re-contamination. That’s where formic acid comes into play.
Formic acid limits pathogens in animal feed and prevents their growth in the avian gastrointestinal tract. Also, the compound has been depicted to be a highly effective antimicrobial agent against Salmonella and other pathogens.
Underlining research studies likely to open new avenues for formic acid industry from animal feed applications
In April 2021, a research study indicated that the use of sodium buffered formic acid can be used in both pelleted and mash feed for swine nursery, broiler grower, and swine finisher to offer continuous acidification over a period of 3 months.
The concentration of the compound exhibits increased stability in pelleted and mash feeds, with high inclusion levels reducing the feed pH. These results are likely to help producers better comprehend the use of formic acids in mash and pelleted feeds for animal feed applications.
Speaking on these lines, it would be pivotal to state the mention of BASF’s Amasil formic acid. According to the company, the product supports vital animal performance via optimal feed hygiene, which potentially helps the egg and poultry producers to deliver effective yields.
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While the animal feed application remains a prominent vertical across the industry, formic acid is penetrating other sectors as well – some of which include the pharmaceutical, leather, textile, rubber, and paper industries.
1. Pharmaceutical industry
According to recent studies, 85% of the formic acid application in medicines is considered safe, economical, and an efficient substitute in the treatment of common warts with increased compliance and relatively lower side effects.
Having said that, increasing incidences of common warts worldwide would have a significant impact on the use of formic acid in treatment drugs for these conditions. As per a recent report published by National Center for Biotechnology Information 2022, common warts affect nearly 10% of the global population while in school children, the prevalence is approximately 10% to 20%. It is more common among meat handlers and immunosuppressed patients.
2. Textile industry
In the textile sector, formic acid is generally used to eradicate the need for printing Tyco submicron sodium nitrate procedure of nitrite gas, neutral dyes, and weak acid dyes. The compound is known to improve the operation rate of the dye in the chrome mordant process. Moreover, making use of formic acid instead of sulfuric acid in dyeing can avoid the degradation of cellulose as the acidity is moderate, working as a good auxiliary agent.
3. Rubber industry
In the rubber industry, formic acid is an ideal choice for coagulating natural latex owing to its innumerable advantages including-
• Cost-effectiveness
• Exceptional performance
• Environment friendliness
These benefits make the compound one of the best natural rubber latex thickening agents in dry rubber production. Studies depict that natural rubber latex coagulation by utilizing formic acid at a suitable concentration and recommended methods could produce superior quality dry rubbers with good colors as required by manufacturers and dealers.
The growing demand for rubber latex for increased production of gloves, swim caps, chewing gum, and others would potentially impact the sales of formic acid compounds worldwide. Not to mention, the rising sales volume of gloves during the COVID-19 pandemic has offered a positive impetus to formic acid market.
CO2 to formic acid: Novel technologies make their presence felt in formic acid industry
The levels of toxic CO2 are increasing worldwide, and the production of different chemicals is only adding to this carbon footprint. As per the IEA report, direct carbon emissions from primary chemical production accounted for 920 Mt CO2 in 2020. To this end, various governments and organizations are now working on reducing carbon emissions by converting the gas into organic acids that can be used in different industries.
In one such demonstration, a research team from Tokyo Tech in Japan developed photocatalytic systems that could cut down carbon dioxide with the help of sunlight and convert it into formic acid with approximately 90% selectivity. The result demonstrated that the system was able to showcase 80 to 90% selectivity towards formic acid and a quantum yield of 4.3%.
Future trends likely to be witnessed in the formic acid market
While the production of formic acid from carbon dioxide is gaining significant prominence across the chemical industry today, sources predict that the compound could be considered an effective hydrogen storage molecule amid a potential future hydrogen economy. In fact, formic acid and its derivatives could be seen as a storable and liquid version of CO that can be directly used in the existing chemical value chains.
