Acetaldehyde (ethanol, CH3 CH=O, Melting Point: 123.5oC, Flash Point: - 38oC, Ignition temperature: 165oC) is a colourless, odorous liquid.
Acetaldehyde has a pungent, suffocating odour which is somewhat fruity and quite pleasant in dilute concentration. Acetaldehyde is miscible in all proportions with water and most common organic solvents. Example: acetone, benzene, ethyl alcohol, ether, gasoline, toluene, xylenes, turpentine and acetic acid.

Commercially, passing alcohol vapors and preheated air over a silver catalyst at 480oC carries out the oxidation. With a multitubular reactor, conversions of 74 to 82 percent per pass can be obtained while generating steam to be used elsewhere in the process.

Since 1908, it has been known that silver greatly increases the efficiency of production of formaldehyde from methyl alcohol. Here silver catalyses the oxidation of an alcohol into an aldehyde called formaldehyde, which is one of the most important industrial and research chemicals. It is an essential block for a class of plastics with an estimated world production exceeding 15 million tons per year, which includes adhesives, laminating resins for construction, plywood and particle boards, finishes for paper and electronic equipment, surface coating that resist heat and scratches, casings for appliances, packaging materials, automotive parts, thermal and electrical insulating materials etc. 

Plata Concepto supplies such precious make-up silver metals to provide the customer’s options to buy and sell these metallic products are traded in the international markets on a daily basis.