Methanol-stabilised aqueous formalin from the silver-catalyst route

1. Scope and Applicability

This method covers bulk aqueous formaldehyde stabilised with methanol, made from fossil industrial methanol by the high-conversion crystalline-silver oxidation/dehydrogenation route, water absorption, actual grade adjustment and bulk storage/loading. The foreground includes a dedicated thermal oxidiser with heat-recovery boiler for the hydrogen-rich tail gas. “High conversion” names the process configuration in jrc-lvoc-2017 Sections 6.2.1–6.2.2.1 and Figure 6.1, not an assumed numerical conversion. No conversion, yield, purity, catalyst life, recipe, energy intensity or emission factor is prescribed.

The reference identity is conventional nominal 37 wt% methanol-stabilised formalin; actual SKU, HCHO-equivalent assay, methanol, water and impurities must be collected and checked against that identity and the provider basis. The native reference describes approximately 37 wt% HCHO and usually 10–12% methanol. These are illustrative customary composition descriptions, not mandatory grade limits or a recipe; the methanol percentage convention is unspecified. Nominal 37 wt% is this PCR’s declared product subset, not a hard native tolerance. The silver-route absorber product in jrc-lvoc-2017 has lower residual methanol; it is not automatically the accepted reference mixture. Collect any finishing addition and require actual composition/concentration conventions and provider acceptance to agree with the whole-mixture identity. Intended preservative/fixative use is descriptive and does not establish an exclusive manufacturing grade. Producer evidence hexion-formalin confirms varying aqueous concentrations and methanol inhibition levels, not a universal recipe or a silver-route attribution. A different grade must have a compatible identity; neither a pure-HCHO record nor a recovered solvent can automatically stand for the supplied mixture.

Excluded are biological enzyme preparations/fermentation, ethanol manufacture or denaturation, other aldehydes/ethers/ketones/isomers, metal-oxide formaldehyde, silver partial-conversion routes requiring methanol distillation, gas-engine/central-boiler tail-gas handling, urea/melamine precondensates, non-methanol stabilisers, paraformaldehyde production, methanol-free or buffered fixation solutions, and standalone dilution of purchased formalin. Product application labels do not create another PCR. This method is a narrower subset of mixed CPC 3.0:34170, not full coverage.

2. Product Category Identity

Field	Value
canonical_pcr_id	pcr.other-transportable-goods-except-metal-products-machinery-and-equipment.basic-chemicals.methanol-stabilized-formalin-silver-route
classification_refs	CPC 3.0:34170; proposed narrower relation, acceptance remains separate
covered_products	Bulk conventional nominal 37 wt% aqueous formalin, formaldehyde CAS 50-00-0, methanol CAS 67-56-1, water CAS 7732-18-5; actual grade and assay disclosed
excluded_products	Section 1 excluded chemicals, mixtures, manufacturing and delivery routes
representative_product	Actual accepted methanol-stabilised formalin SKU; no default composition
production_route	Fossil methanol receipt → vaporisation with air/water → crystalline silver reaction → water absorption → grade adjustment → bulk storage/loading; dedicated tail-gas thermal oxidation/heat recovery
market_state	Full aqueous supply mixture, bulk at plant loading gate; packaging is not included in the reference mass

3. Reference Flow

Field	Value
What	Methanol-stabilised aqueous formalin supplied as a chemical intermediate
How much	1 kg accepted net product as supplied
How well	Meets the actual declared SKU acceptance; assayed HCHO-equivalent, overall methanol/water and distinct impurities; true/free-species basis separate; no assumed purity
How long or cycle	At gate delivery; storage time and temperature collected, no service-life default
reference_flow_link	out_formalin

Field	Value
Reference amount	1
Reference product flow	Formalin (a7fad773-b7f9-4027-8488-4108c2c41d45)
Reference flow property	Mass (93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66)
Reference unit group	Units of mass (93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66)
Reference unit	kg
Required qualifiers	Actual SKU and assay method; aqueous supply state; HCHO-equivalent/overall methanol/overall water/distinct impurity mass fractions and analytical convention; free versus bound quantities explicitly distinguished; net accepted supply mass; fossil methanol origin/provider; crystalline-silver high-conversion configuration; dedicated oxidiser/heat-recovery boundary; site/period/stocks; bulk delivery temperature; recovered-stream destinations; utility pressure/enthalpy/volume reference; allocation and provider basis compatibility

Required qualifiers belong in dataset metadata, product/reference comments or equivalent fields; missing qualifiers make the package reference incomplete.

4. Measurement and Unit Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Required property	Required unit	Rule
m_supply	reference_product	Mass	kg	Use 1 kg accepted net formalin supply mixture, including methanol, water and actual impurities. Pure HCHO-equivalent mass is reported separately and never silently replaces the denominator.
m_assay	out_formalin, in_methanol, w_aqueous	Mass	kg	Measure mass fractions on the actual supplied or discharged basis. For out_formalin determine industrial solution HCHO-equivalent mass fraction using iso-formalin-assay-1972 and cp_product; free-carbonyl analysis alone is not a full product assay. Report overall water/methanol composition separately from true free/bound species. Record sample state, dilution, recovery, impurities and propagated uncertainty. Raw methanol and dilute/contaminated wastes require their own compatible assays; do not transfer the commercial-solution procedure outside its matrix/concentration limits.
m_electricity	in_electricity	Net calorific value	MJ	Preserve the selected reference-property label. Convert metered kWh using 1 kWh = 3.6 MJ; this identity supplies no grid mix, voltage, losses or generation factor.
m_steam	in_steam, out_steam	Net delivered thermal energy	MJ	Use calibrated physical mass/state measurements and iapws-if97-2012 enthalpies within its validity regions, following cp_energy and c_heat. Measure wet-steam quality; pressure and temperature on the saturation line do not determine it. Provider/receiver net heat definition must agree; NCV/GCV labels do not establish enthalpy service.
m_gas	in_gas	Volume	m3	Reconcile measured volume with provider absolute temperature/pressure, wet/dry gas composition and compressibility; preserve actual heating-value basis separately. Database secondary mass coefficients do not supply density.
m_species	elementary outputs	Mass or Volume as selected	kg or m3 as selected	Integrate compatible species concentrations and actual gas/liquid volumes over the operating period. Preserve phase, origin, medium, dry/wet/standard-state conventions and monitoring quantity definition; volume discharge is separate from pollutant mass.

Supply-assay and steam-service protocols

For cp_product, use representative sealed, nearly filled samples taken promptly after receipt; retain lot temperature, appearance and sampling-to-analysis time. ISO2227 covers clear or slightly cloudy industrial solutions at 25–45% HCHO; precipitated samples give incorrect results even when mixed. Preserve the precipitate/off-spec quantity and analyse all phases by an independently validated method before claiming a total; filtering it away cannot validate whole product. Follow the fresh neutral sulphite preparation, weighed test portion, sample/reagent neutralisation, covered handling, two-minute mixing and standardised acid endpoint of Sections 4–8. With acid concentration c in mol/L, sample mass m_sample in g and attributable titration volume V in mL, w_HCHO = 30.03 × c × V / (1000 × m_sample), corrected for actual dilution/titer and any demonstrated blank. This is an analytical HCHO-equivalent mass fraction, not free HCHO gas. Qualify the actual methanol/impurity matrix through replicated assays, reagent blanks, dilution consistency and recovery or independent comparison; retain departures, interfering carbonyls, detection limits and uncertainty rather than assuming complete response.

For overall water use the actual published volumetric KF preparation in breitkreuz-formalin-analysis-2023 Section 2.4.3: weigh 0.2 g sample with 1 g dry methanol, condition at least 24 h, then titrate; repeat at least twice and correct the weighed dilution and measured reagent blank. Validate on comparable compositions, including actual acid/redox/other carbonyl impurities, time-dependent recovery and moisture ingress. These are analytical preparation conditions, not a factory recipe. Do not borrow that study’s omission of small formic-acid contents or its 1%/2% errors as site defaults. Within a verified single-liquid HCHO/methanol/water matrix, w_MeOH = 1 - w_HCHO - w_water_overall - sum(w_distinct_impurities); measure impurity fractions independently and propagate closure uncertainty. Unknown impurities, separated phases or analytical interferences invalidate this inference until an independent quantitative method establishes coverage. This scheme defines overall composition, including equivalents bound in soluble oligomers/hemiformals, and does not establish free water or free methanol. True species, paraformaldehyde solids, methylal and other stable compounds remain separate; do not assign an equilibrium model or a guessed bound fraction.

For cp_energy, record calibrated steam and condensate mass meters, absolute pressure (convert gauge pressure using measured local ambient pressure), temperature, phase and independently measured wet-steam quality, with synchronised intervals and meter/state uncertainty. Obtain h(p,T) for single-phase ordinary water/steam from iapws-if97-2012; on the saturation line use measured quality x and h = (1 - x) × h_liquid + x × h_vapour. Verify the applicable region, validity limits, implementation/test values and a common enthalpy datum. IF97 does not describe contaminated chemical mixtures; their composition/thermodynamic method needs separate qualification. Use the mass-closed enthalpy difference in c_heat only for the actual matched service. Reconcile unequal mass, non-returned condensate, make-up, drains, leaks, residual steam and storage before reporting net useful heat; include losses and any work/kinetic/potential terms when material. Retain kg/state water transfers once in the physical ledger and MJ service once in the energy ledger. Imports and useful exports require their actual supplier/receiver acceptance; no standard pressure, dry-steam assumption, constant heat factor or NCV/GCV-to-enthalpy conversion is supplied.

Physical reconciliation uses the silver-route reactions CH3OH ⇌ CH2O + H2 and H2 + ½ O2 → H2O only as species/atom identities (jrc-lvoc-2017 Section 6.2.2), not as assumed extents, yield or a fixed oxygen demand. Collect actual reaction/combustion water generation and any water consumed or released by hydration/condensation separately from fresh water, carrier water, internal steam/condensate and emitted H2O. Retain whole stream mass and its component account as two views of the same material. HCHO-equivalent assay and water-by-difference may be an analytical equivalent convention; neither independently establishes free-water mass or molecular speciation. For the declared overall-composition convention, poly(oxymethylene) glycols contribute their HCHO-equivalent plus water and hemiformals contribute their HCHO-equivalent plus methanol (breitkreuz-formalin-analysis-2023 Section 2.3). This is an atom-preserving decomposition, not a measured free/bound split. Close H/O using these overall constituents plus measured distinct impurities; if true-species quantities are needed, require independent species evidence. Never add equivalent HCHO, full hydrated/oligomeric species and their bound water as separate physical masses. An unresolved analytical basis remains incomplete.

5. System Boundary

Boundary Abstraction

Field	Value
declared_starting_condition	Accepted externally supplied fossil industrial methanol and declared fresh catalyst/utility inputs at plant receipt
starting_condition_role	Chemical feed and utility supply; methanol manufacture remains in compatible upstream providers
product_classification_scope	The stated aqueous methanol-stabilised silver-route formalin subset of CPC 3.0:34170
recursive_input_rule	Preserve equal-endpoint internal absorption liquor/methanol/formalin returns. Purchased same-category formalin retains a separate upstream provider and measured rework contribution; do not recurse to zero burden or treat dilution-only as this manufacture route
upstream_dataset_requirement	Composition/route-compatible methanol, refined silver or actual regeneration service, demineralised water, electricity, fuel, steam and external waste-treatment providers with matching reference quantities
disclosure	Actual flow diagram, unit boundaries, supplier/receiver states, all stocks/rework/recycles, final discharge media, normal/abnormal operating modes, meter and laboratory bases, allocated burden account and unresolved links

rule_id	applies_to	rule	source_ids
b_route	formalin_train	Include feed receipt and storage, vaporisation, air supply, crystalline-silver conversion, cooling/heat recovery, multistage water absorption, actual methanol stabilisation/dilution, storage/loading and their final controls. Retain stage meters in one integrated foreground unit; do not make the same solution an additional reference output between absorption and finishing.	jrc-lvoc-2017, hexion-formalin
b_tailgas	formalin_train	Include dedicated thermal oxidation and heat-recovery boiler, support fuel/start-ups, condensate, cooling and final stack. Absorber gas, hydrogen and recovered heat used internally are measured internal transfers; do not also count them as fuel purchases, product sales or pre-control emissions.	jrc-lvoc-2017
b_water	formalin_train	Include collection/rework of cleaning, spill and contaminated condensate streams, pretreatment and any wastewater treatment actually inside the foreground. External treatment uses a composition/receiver-specific waste interface; final elementary releases occur only at the declared nature boundary. No normal-operation effluent assumption permits deleting episodic releases.	jrc-lvoc-2017
b_ledger	physical_ledger	Retain unallocated mass, water, carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and energy ledgers, with composition/quantity equality at both endpoints of every internal link. Include stocks, precipitation, catalysts, nitrogen/oxygen carriers, reaction water, collected residues and abnormal losses. Recovered solvent has its actual composition/state, not fresh feed identity by name alone.	jrc-lvoc-2017
b_complete	additional_exchanges	Inventory cards are a conditional minimum checklist. Add one atomic row for every additional actual reagent, filter, ion-exchange resin/regenerant, captured dust, sludge type, packaging component, transport, cooling chemical, fuel or pollutant. State documented absence rather than silent zero; missing identity/provider stays incomplete. For actual packed deliveries, add each container/closure component separately while excluding it from net product mass. Account for actual returnable containers/tankers, packing, maintenance replacements, cleaning, transport and return losses using evidenced service/cycle shares; do not assume disposable packaging or zero equipment burden. Preserve carried upstream burdens of purchased feed, rework and regenerated material without crediting the same recovery twice.	jrc-lvoc-2017

6. Process Inventory Structure

Process Map

process_id	process_name	inclusion	inclusion_condition	role	quantitative_reference
formalin_train	Integrated silver-route aqueous formalin manufacture and dedicated tail-gas control	required	Stated route and bulk product state	Foreground with independent stage metering and complete internal links	1 kg accepted net formalin as supplied

Physical map: fresh methanol + atmospheric air + demineralised water → vaporisation → silver reaction/cooling → water absorption → measured grade adjustment → accepted bulk formalin. Absorption liquid and optional tail gas return internally to vaporisation. Tail gas → dedicated thermal oxidiser/heat-recovery boiler → final stack and measured own-use/export steam. Cleaning/condensate → permitted rework or actual treatment/receiver; cold-spot deposits and spent catalyst retain actual destinations. Keep this physical process map separate from the allocated environmental-burden account.

Process: Integrated formalin manufacture (formalin_train)

Inputs

Product flows

Methanol (market average) (in_methanol)

Fresh fossil industrial methanol, CAS 67-56-1, for vaporiser feed and conditional finishing stabilisation. Meter these purposes separately and aggregate only net external additions. This market-average identity explicitly covers coal gasification/coking and natural-gas routes; record the actual supplier mix, purity and water, with no biomass assignment or default background. Internal recovered methanol is not fresh input. The row quantity is the whole accepted industrial methanol supply on its verified provider basis, not a purity-corrected alcohol component substituted without conversion. Record consumed alcohol, retained stabiliser, recovered alcohol and losses separately; no complete conversion or stabiliser dose is assumed.

• Selected flow: Methanol (market average) (adbc8430-7937-4ade-b7a5-cb1797dda661)
• Flow property / unit: Mass (93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66); unit group 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: Measured period boundary quantity from the linked collection protocol divided by accepted net formalin supply mass for the same period; no default
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_material
• Sources: jrc-lvoc-2017

Demineralized water (in_water)

Externally supplied ion-exchange/RO demineralised water for absorption, measured grade adjustment, cleaning and boiler make-up. Separate the purpose meters; water already in methanol supply or recycled scrubber liquor is not another external input. On-site production requires its own actual raw-water and treatment exchanges.

• Selected flow: Demineralized water (9385842f-1815-4f19-a6b9-3dbb7ccbbffc)
• Flow property / unit: Mass (93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66); unit group 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: Measured period boundary quantity from the linked collection protocol divided by accepted net formalin supply mass for the same period; no default
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_water
• Sources: jrc-lvoc-2017

silver (in_silver)

Unalloyed refined crystalline silver, CAS 7440-22-4, supplied to the catalyst bed. The broad refined-metal identity applies only to actual silver metal, not silver salts, supported composites, foil or conductive paste. Weigh installed/replaced fresh and regenerated charges separately; a regeneration service and its losses are separate exchanges. No catalyst life, silver recovery or loading is prescribed.

• Selected flow: silver (7db0c01b-7605-4e92-90a1-c4bc6dd8e157)
• Flow property / unit: Mass (93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66); unit group 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: Measured period boundary quantity from the linked collection protocol divided by accepted net formalin supply mass for the same period; no default
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_catalyst
• Sources: jrc-lvoc-2017

Alternating current (in_electricity)

Meter vaporiser, blowers, pumps, cooling, loading and pollution controls. This selected record is China 1–35 kV grid-average consumption supply to user; use it only where the actual location, voltage and provider boundary agree. Another geography, voltage or generation contract needs a separately verified flow/provider.

• Selected flow: Alternating current (3d76981f-964a-4865-b588-0e067a2a1163)
• Flow property / unit: Net calorific value (93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66); unit group 93a60a57-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66 / MJ
• Amount rule: Measured period boundary quantity from the linked collection protocol divided by accepted net formalin supply mass for the same period; no default
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_energy
• Sources: jrc-lvoc-2017

Imported process-steam heat (in_steam)

Conditional imported process-steam heat for start-up, vaporisation or finishing. Determine actual pressure, temperature, dryness, steam/condensate masses and delivered enthalpy difference; the supplier/background must define the same net delivered heat basis. Record 11.0 MPaG or 0.45 MPaG streams only when those pressures are real; no currently verified record establishes this unspecified site heat service. Retain the utility link as incomplete until matched.

• Selected flow: Imported process-steam heat
• Flow property / unit: Net delivered thermal energy (property/unit group pending compatible provider) / MJ
• Amount rule: Measured period boundary quantity from the linked collection protocol divided by accepted net formalin supply mass for the same period; no default
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_energy
• Sources: jrc-lvoc-2017

natural gas in the gaseous state (in_gas)

Conditional compressed pipeline fossil natural gas for start-up or support firing in the dedicated thermal oxidiser/heat-recovery boiler. The selected reference is Volume, not Mass. Collect absolute pressure, temperature, wet/dry composition and compressibility and reconcile supplier cubic-metre conditions; a secondary mass coefficient is not a density. No firing rate or heating value is assumed.

• Selected flow: natural gas in the gaseous state (4f19ca0e-7b3b-11dd-ad8b-0800200c9a66)
• Flow property / unit: Volume (93a60a56-a3c8-22da-a746-0800200c9a66); unit group 93a60a57-a3c8-12da-a746-0800200c9a66 / m3
• Amount rule: Measured period boundary quantity from the linked collection protocol divided by accepted net formalin supply mass for the same period; no default
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_energy
• Sources: jrc-lvoc-2017

Elementary flows

air (air_input)

Measure net fresh atmospheric air drawn into the vaporiser/reaction and combustion system; do not count recycled tail gas as fresh air. This is a resource from air. Derive mass from recorded volume, pressure, temperature, humidity and composition; keep O2/N2/carrier-water components in the physical ledger without also entering them as duplicate air-resource inputs.

• Selected flow: air (fe0acd60-3ddc-11dd-aaa4-0050c2490048)
• Flow property / unit: Mass (93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66); unit group 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: Measured period boundary quantity from the linked collection protocol divided by accepted net formalin supply mass for the same period; no default
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_air
• Sources: jrc-lvoc-2017

Outputs

Product flows

Formalin (out_formalin)

Accepted bulk methanol-stabilised aqueous formalin at the loading gate. The selected oxidation-route solution identity describes conventional nominal 37 wt% formalin with methanol stabilisation; verify actual SKU/assay compatibility before using it. Its descriptive composition is not a dose, exact purity or universal assay. The native oxidation treatment is compatible with this declared silver oxidative-dehydrogenation subset but does not independently prove a site route. Verify producer gate and any post-absorption methanol adjustment; preserve the native percentage ambiguity rather than assuming 10–12 wt% or imposing an invented tolerance. Declare actual HCHO-equivalent, methanol, carrier water and impurities; exclude crude reaction gas, methanol-free solutions, urea precondensates, solid paraformaldehyde and recovered-solvent sales.

• Selected flow: Formalin (a7fad773-b7f9-4027-8488-4108c2c41d45)
• Flow property / unit: Mass (93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66); unit group 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: 1 kg
• Value mode: Fixed value (fixed_value)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Method formula (method_formula)
• Collection protocol: cp_product
• Sources: jrc-lvoc-2017, hexion-formalin

Net exported steam heat (out_steam)

Conditional net exported useful steam heat after own process use and measured losses. Keep separate gross generation, internal use, imported heat and export meters; retain actual steam mass, pressure, temperature, dryness, condensate return and receiver enthalpy reference. Do not subtract export from input or assign an avoided-energy credit automatically. A compatible net heat identity/provider remains unresolved.

• Selected flow: Net exported steam heat
• Flow property / unit: Net delivered thermal energy (property/unit group pending compatible provider) / MJ
• Amount rule: Measured period boundary quantity from the linked collection protocol divided by accepted net formalin supply mass for the same period; no default
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_energy
• Sources: jrc-lvoc-2017

Waste flows

Spent crystalline silver catalyst to metal recovery (w_catalyst)

Spent crystalline silver catalyst crossing the gate to a documented external metal reclaimer. Weigh the actual wet/contaminated charge, silver fraction and recipient acceptance; retain returned metal/service separately. Generic disposal catalyst waste does not establish this specific recycling interface. No recovery percentage or negative virgin-silver credit is prescribed.

• Selected flow: Spent crystalline silver catalyst to metal recovery
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Measured period boundary quantity from the linked collection protocol divided by accepted net formalin supply mass for the same period; no default
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_waste
• Sources: jrc-lvoc-2017

Collected paraformaldehyde deposit waste (w_paraform)

Conditional collected paraformaldehyde deposits removed from filters, pipes or cold spots and sent outside the gate. Weigh each consignment, water, organic contamination and receiving treatment. Internal dissolution/rework is an equal-endpoint internal link, not this waste output or a marketed paraformaldehyde coproduct.

• Selected flow: Collected paraformaldehyde deposit waste
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Measured period boundary quantity from the linked collection protocol divided by accepted net formalin supply mass for the same period; no default
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_waste
• Sources: jrc-lvoc-2017

Formaldehyde-bearing aqueous effluent to external treatment (w_aqueous)

Conditional formaldehyde-bearing aqueous purge/cleaning liquor sent to external treatment. Measure volume and density or wet mass, HCHO assay definition, methanol, formate, COD/TOC, salts and receiver. Keep each different composition/source stream separately in the site record; aggregate only compatible receiver interfaces. Waste water reworked internally is not an external output; this row is not direct discharge to nature.

• Selected flow: Formaldehyde-bearing aqueous effluent to external treatment
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Measured period boundary quantity from the linked collection protocol divided by accepted net formalin supply mass for the same period; no default
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_waste
• Sources: jrc-lvoc-2017

Excess biological-treatment sludge (w_sludge)

Conditional excess biological-treatment sludge if wastewater treatment is inside the foreground. Collect wet mass, dry solids, retained formaldehyde/methanol, mineral fraction and receiver acceptance. Return activated sludge is internal; chemical precipitate and screening residues require separate actual rows, not this identity.

• Selected flow: Excess biological-treatment sludge
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Measured period boundary quantity from the linked collection protocol divided by accepted net formalin supply mass for the same period; no default
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_waste
• Sources: jrc-lvoc-2017

Elementary flows

formaldehyde (air_formaldehyde)

Formaldehyde to outdoor air, CAS 50-00-0. Quantify final stack, storage/loading vents, fugitives and abnormal releases after actual controls; not raw absorber gas subsequently burnt. Use a validated Method0011 sampling/8315A analysis implementation with matrix recovery, blanks and wet/dry flow correspondence, or another demonstrated compatible method.

• Selected flow: formaldehyde (08a91e70-3ddc-11dd-941b-0050c2490048)
• Flow property / unit: Mass (93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66); unit group 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: Measured period boundary quantity from the linked collection protocol divided by accepted net formalin supply mass for the same period; no default
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_emission
• Sources: jrc-lvoc-2017, epa-carbonyl-8315a

methanol (air_methanol)

Methanol to outdoor air, CAS 67-56-1, from final stack and measured handling/fugitive releases. Use species-specific analysis and compatible gas flow, not TVOC carbon-equivalent mass.

• Selected flow: methanol (fe0acd60-3ddc-11dd-a935-0050c2490048)
• Flow property / unit: Mass (93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66); unit group 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: Measured period boundary quantity from the linked collection protocol divided by accepted net formalin supply mass for the same period; no default
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_emission
• Sources: jrc-lvoc-2017

methyl formate (air_methylformate)

Conditional measured methyl formate, CAS 107-31-3, to outdoor air; separate from formic acid and methanol. A trace in process gas is not a default positive gate release.

• Selected flow: methyl formate (fe0acd60-3ddc-11dd-afcf-0050c2490048)
• Flow property / unit: Mass (93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66); unit group 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: Measured period boundary quantity from the linked collection protocol divided by accepted net formalin supply mass for the same period; no default
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_emission
• Sources: jrc-lvoc-2017

dimethoxymethane (air_methylal)

Conditional measured dimethoxymethane, CAS 109-87-5, to outdoor air; not formaldehyde or dimethyl ether. Verify final controls and compound-specific mass.

• Selected flow: dimethoxymethane (4d9a8790-3ddd-11dd-9c6a-0050c2490048)
• Flow property / unit: Mass (93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66); unit group 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: Measured period boundary quantity from the linked collection protocol divided by accepted net formalin supply mass for the same period; no default
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_emission
• Sources: jrc-lvoc-2017

carbon dioxide (fossil) (air_co2)

Fossil CO2 to outdoor air from over-oxidation and dedicated off-gas/support-fuel combustion; reconcile measured stack carbon with fossil feed/fuel and stocks. Do not add an untreated tail-gas CO2 amount to a final-stack amount that already includes it. Carbon origin is measured/disclosed; any actual biogenic carbon requires its own CO2 row and remains in LCI regardless of greenhouse-gas reporting conventions.

• Selected flow: carbon dioxide (fossil) (08a91e70-3ddc-11dd-923d-0050c2490048)
• Flow property / unit: Mass (93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66); unit group 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: Measured period boundary quantity from the linked collection protocol divided by accepted net formalin supply mass for the same period; no default
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_emission
• Sources: jrc-lvoc-2017

carbon monoxide (fossil) (air_co)

Fossil CO to outdoor air, CAS 630-08-0, remaining after oxidation/combustion. Measure the final released species; raw process gas sent to the oxidiser remains internal.

• Selected flow: carbon monoxide (fossil) (08a91e70-3ddc-11dd-924e-0050c2490048)
• Flow property / unit: Mass (93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66); unit group 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: Measured period boundary quantity from the linked collection protocol divided by accepted net formalin supply mass for the same period; no default
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_emission
• Sources: jrc-lvoc-2017

hydrogen (air_hydrogen)

Molecular hydrogen, CAS 1333-74-0, actually released to outdoor air after recovery/control or during abnormal modes. Measure residual hydrogen; hydrogen internally combusted is not an external sale or emission. Do not use acidity as H+ or hydrogen-sulfide records.

• Selected flow: hydrogen (08a91e70-3ddc-11dd-949c-0050c2490048)
• Flow property / unit: Mass (93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66); unit group 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: Measured period boundary quantity from the linked collection protocol divided by accepted net formalin supply mass for the same period; no default
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_emission
• Sources: jrc-lvoc-2017

Nitrogen oxides (air_nox)

Conditional NOx from the dedicated combustion unit. Record the monitoring convention and LCIA quantity definition; kg alone does not prove NO2-equivalent mass. Link this aggregate only after measured NO/NO2 composition or the provider definition establishes compatibility; otherwise the quantity/background link is pending. Exclude N2O and do not also total separately entered NO/NO2. A result reported as NO2 equivalent is an analytical/impact convention, not automatically the physical mass of NO plus NO2; use separately measured species/speciation for the elemental and physical ledger.

• Selected flow: Nitrogen oxides (f79d0f8f-2b0e-49cb-bed0-b1ea0fbd8625)
• Flow property / unit: Mass (93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66); unit group 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: Measured period boundary quantity from the linked collection protocol divided by accepted net formalin supply mass for the same period; no default
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_emission
• Sources: jrc-lvoc-2017

sulfur dioxide (air_so2)

Conditional actual sulfur dioxide, CAS 7446-09-5, from the combustion unit; verify measured sulfur/speciation and final controls. Do not substitute a sulfur-oxide aggregate or invent positive sulfur emissions for sulfur-free supplies.

• Selected flow: sulfur dioxide (fe0acd60-3ddc-11dd-ac48-0050c2490048)
• Flow property / unit: Mass (93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66); unit group 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: Measured period boundary quantity from the linked collection protocol divided by accepted net formalin supply mass for the same period; no default
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_emission
• Sources: jrc-lvoc-2017

particles (PM2.5) (air_pm25)

Conditional final outdoor-air particles no larger than PM2.5. Obtain a compatible particle-size measurement at the dedicated combustion/handling outlets; this disjoint fraction is not added to an overlapping total PM10.

• Selected flow: particles (PM2.5) (08a91e70-3ddc-11dd-9293-0050c2490048)
• Flow property / unit: Mass (93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66); unit group 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: Measured period boundary quantity from the linked collection protocol divided by accepted net formalin supply mass for the same period; no default
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_emission
• Sources: jrc-lvoc-2017

particles (PM2.5 - PM10) (air_pm2510)

Conditional final outdoor-air particles larger than PM2.5 and no larger than PM10. Derive only from compatible size-resolved measurements, distinguishing captured dust and inventory time; no guessed size fractions.

• Selected flow: particles (PM2.5 - PM10) (08a91e70-3ddc-11dd-9501-0050c2490048)
• Flow property / unit: Mass (93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66); unit group 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: Measured period boundary quantity from the linked collection protocol divided by accepted net formalin supply mass for the same period; no default
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_emission
• Sources: jrc-lvoc-2017

particles (> PM10) (air_pmover10)

Conditional final outdoor-air particles larger than PM10. Keep this fraction separate from PM2.5 and PM2.5–PM10. Collected dust sent to a receiver is a separate waste exchange, and internally returned dust is not another emission.

• Selected flow: particles (> PM10) (fe0acd60-3ddc-11dd-a70a-0050c2490048)
• Flow property / unit: Mass (93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66); unit group 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: Measured period boundary quantity from the linked collection protocol divided by accepted net formalin supply mass for the same period; no default
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_emission
• Sources: jrc-lvoc-2017

water vapour (air_water_vapour)

Water vapour actually released to outdoor air from final gas and cooling/steam losses. Retain actual humidity/condensate measurements and phase; do not map liquid freshwater discharge to vapour or double count process water already retained in formalin. This row is H2O vapour mass, not whole wet vent-gas mass, bound hydrogen/oxygen totals or steam heat. Track generated combustion/reaction water, intake humidity, evaporation, condensed water and actual emitted vapour separately; constituent species do not add another whole carrier stream.

• Selected flow: water vapour (fe0acd60-3ddc-11dd-ac04-0050c2490048)
• Flow property / unit: Mass (93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66); unit group 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: Measured period boundary quantity from the linked collection protocol divided by accepted net formalin supply mass for the same period; no default
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_emission
• Sources: jrc-lvoc-2017

methane (fossil) (air_methane)

Conditional fossil methane, CAS 74-82-8, actually escaping from pipeline support-fuel handling or final combustion exhaust. Verify leak tests/species mass and final-control boundary; gas input does not imply a methane emission factor.

• Selected flow: methane (fossil) (08a91e70-3ddc-11dd-9610-0050c2490048)
• Flow property / unit: Mass (93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66); unit group 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: Measured period boundary quantity from the linked collection protocol divided by accepted net formalin supply mass for the same period; no default
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_emission
• Sources: jrc-lvoc-2017

formaldehyde (water_formaldehyde)

Conditional formaldehyde actually discharged to fresh surface water after included treatment. Match free-carbonyl 8315A results, any validated total-HCHO-equivalent result, sampling recovery and the LCI/LCIA definition; do not silently equate free monomer, hydrated/oligomeric formaldehyde and total organic carbon. Assess the unmeasured portion and use an appropriate validated assay before a complete release inventory.

• Selected flow: formaldehyde (fe0acd60-3ddc-11dd-9ee6-0050c2490048)
• Flow property / unit: Mass (93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66); unit group 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: Measured period boundary quantity from the linked collection protocol divided by accepted net formalin supply mass for the same period; no default
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_effluent
• Sources: jrc-lvoc-2017, epa-carbonyl-8315a

methanol (water_methanol)

Conditional methanol, CAS 67-56-1, actually discharged to fresh surface water. Measure final outfall species mass; wastewater handed to an external treatment provider is represented by the waste interface, with no duplicate untreated elementary release here.

• Selected flow: methanol (fe0acd60-3ddc-11dd-a939-0050c2490048)
• Flow property / unit: Mass (93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66); unit group 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: Measured period boundary quantity from the linked collection protocol divided by accepted net formalin supply mass for the same period; no default
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_effluent
• Sources: jrc-lvoc-2017

formic acid (water_formic)

Conditional free formic acid, CAS 64-18-6, in final freshwater discharge, only when actual species/assay definition and pH support this identity. Sodium formate, total formate reported as acid equivalent and COD are different quantities; keep them in the analytical ledger and add appropriate atomic exchanges rather than converting silently.

• Selected flow: formic acid (d86c88e9-6555-11dd-ad8b-0800200c9a66)
• Flow property / unit: Mass (93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66); unit group 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: Measured period boundary quantity from the linked collection protocol divided by accepted net formalin supply mass for the same period; no default
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_effluent
• Sources: jrc-lvoc-2017

Water (water_discharge)

Conditional liquid water actually discharged to fresh surface water, including uncontaminated cooling blowdown and treated outfall carrier water. Meter actual discharge volume; do not use a resource-withdrawal or water-vapour record. The native water flow represents the liquid-water constituent, not every component of wet effluent. Product overall-water assay does not establish free carrier-water quantity at an outfall. Retain whole effluent volume/wet mass separately for sampling integration; establish carrier-water volume from measured composition and compatible water density/state, without assigning a default density or equating contaminated effluent volume with pure-water volume. Pollutant species and carrier water are components of that same discharge, not additional physical outfall mass.

• Selected flow: Water (5e50fc01-19c6-4377-a1cc-bc65a12498ea)
• Flow property / unit: Volume (93a60a56-a3c8-22da-a746-0800200c9a66); unit group 93a60a57-a3c8-12da-a746-0800200c9a66 / m3
• Amount rule: Measured period boundary quantity from the linked collection protocol divided by accepted net formalin supply mass for the same period; no default
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_effluent
• Sources: jrc-lvoc-2017

7. Allocation and Co-product Handling

rule_id	applies_to	rule	source_ids
a_hierarchy	formalin_train	First investigate stage subdivision and system expansion; report any expanded system as that system, not a silently credited single-product result. Use a demonstrated causal physical relationship for inseparable joint burdens where avoidance is impossible. If that cannot be established, justify economic allocation using actual same-period gate quantities and prices, disclose rejected alternatives and sensitivity. Do not assign a fixed share or infer allocation from formalin/steam mass ratios, sale labels or process-gas heating value.	eu-ef-2021-allocation
a_accounts	physical_ledger, burden_account	Keep actual unallocated formalin, exported steam, catalyst waste and effluent quantities and their physical links unchanged. Only the environmental burden account is partitioned: retain each dedicated burden plus the evidenced share of each joint burden, normalized to accepted formalin supply mass. Record shares, included joint stages and evidence; shares sum to one for the joint pool. Never multiply co-product physical output by the allocation share.	eu-ef-2021-allocation, jrc-lvoc-2017
a_recovery	formalin_train	Internal methanol/formalin/condensate returns are internal transfers, with no coproduct credit. Identify useful exported steam by actual receiver acceptance and measured net heat. Treat spent silver and paraformaldehyde deposits according to actual waste/product status and receiver; a recycling intention does not automatically make either a co-product or justify avoided virgin production. Do not combine allocation and substitution for the same burden.	eu-ef-2021-allocation, jrc-lvoc-2017

8. Foreground Data Collection, Calculation, and Quality Rules

Data Collection Protocols

All protocols use the same site and declared production period, include start-up/shutdown, maintenance, spills, stocks and off-spec rework, and retain raw stage records before aggregation. Quantities on inventory cards are physical boundary totals per 1 kg reference flow; the separate product burden account follows Section 7. No factory measurements are supplied by this PCR.

protocol_id	process_id	flow_role	record_type	raw_fields	collection_method	unit	frequency	temporal_coverage	site_scope	aggregation_rule	quality_evidence
cp_product	formalin_train	Accepted net formalin and composition	Delivery and laboratory records	SKU; lot; net loading mass; beginning/end stocks; acceptance; rejected/rework mass; HCHO-equivalent assay method; methanol; water; impurities; temperature	Calibrated net loading scale/mass meter and actual tare/stock reconciliation. ISO2227 Sections4–8: clear/slightly cloudy25–45% HCHO; prompt sealed sampling, no precipitate; fresh neutral sulphite, weighed sample/sample neutralisation, covered handling,2min mixing and standardised acid endpoint. w_HCHO = 30.03 × c × V / (1000 × m_sample), c mol/L, V mL, m_sample g, with actual dilution/titer and demonstrated blank. Breitkreuz Section2.4.3:0.2g sample+1g dry methanol, condition≥24h, volumetric KF repeated≥2, weighed dilution/reagent blank corrections; validate comparable impurity matrix/time response. w_MeOH = 1 - w_HCHO - w_water_overall - sum(w_distinct_impurities), using independently measured distinct impurities; propagate uncertainty. Check phase coverage, interfering carbonyl/acid/redox constituents, recovery and dilution consistency. Never borrow the study’s omitted acid or numerical errors; unknown impurities/interferences prevent closure. Overall composition is not free-species mass; whole product remains1kg.	kg; mass fractions	Each delivery/lot; stock census at period ends	Same declared period, all relevant operating modes	Actual plant loading gate	per 1 kg reference flow	Calibration, signed acceptance, CoA/raw assay, stocks and mass closure
cp_material	formalin_train	Fresh methanol reaction and stabiliser inputs	Receipt, meter, stock and assay records	Supplier route/carbon origin; grade; delivered mass; purity/water; stage dosing; stock changes; internal recovery	Calibrated weighing or matched density/temperature volume-to-mass conversion; separate fresh reaction and finishing additions from internal returns; distinguish whole industrial methanol supply mass from its CH3OH component mass and accompanying water/impurities; reconcile the provider reference with the supplied basis	kg	Each receipt and dosing campaign; period-end reconciliation	Same declared period	Methanol receipt, vaporiser and finishing	per 1 kg reference flow	Supplier certificate, meter/scale calibration, stage balance
cp_catalyst	formalin_train	Fresh/regenerated silver charge	Weighing and service records	Crystalline grade; metal/contamination/water assay; installed/removed mass; stock; reclaimer return; service period	Calibrated charge/removal weighing and metal assays; link each actual regeneration shipment/return; distribute measured campaign use over production served without assuming lifetime or recovery	kg	Each charge/change/return; period reconciliation	Actual catalyst campaigns spanning the same declared production allocation	Actual catalyst bed and receiving service	per 1 kg reference flow	Charge log, assays, receiver/service receipts, stock closure
cp_water	formalin_train	External demineralised make-up	Water meter and quality records	Source; treatment grade; density; absorption/dilution/cleaning/boiler meter readings; composition water; recycles	Calibrated purpose meters with actual density/temperature when mass conversion is needed; identify carrier/reaction water separately	kg	Continuous or batch meters; period reconciliation	Same declared period	Supply and purpose boundaries	per 1 kg reference flow	Calibration, water-quality results and unallocated water balance
cp_energy	formalin_train	Electricity, imported/exported steam heat and natural gas	Separate meter and utility records	kWh; voltage/grid/location; gas m3/T/absolute P/wet-dry/composition/Z; heating basis; steam mass/P/T/dryness; condensate mass/enthalpy; own use; export; receiver basis	Separate calibrated electricity/fuel/steam/condensate meters with synchronised intervals. Collect actual absolute P (gauge plus measured ambient P), T, phase and wet quality x. Use IAPWS-IF97 valid regions for ordinary-water h(p,T), or h=(1-x)h_liquid+x h_vapour at saturation; P/T alone cannot establish x. Verify implementation against release test values/common datum and include state/meter uncertainty. For the actual mass-closed steam-to-condensate interface apply c_heat; unequal returns, non-returned condensate, make-up, drains, leaks, residual steam/storage require a complete mass/enthalpy-port account including material loss/work/kinetic/potential terms. Contaminated mixtures need separate thermodynamic qualification. Reconcile supplier/receiver accepted net heat with dedicated oxidiser/boiler; kg/state water and MJ service are different ledgers, counted once each, not NCV/GCV conversion.	MJ; m3; steam kg as raw records	Meter interval and each start-up/export; period reconciliation	Same declared period including abnormal operation	Actual utility supply, reactor heat recovery and dedicated boiler	per 1 kg reference flow	Meter calibration, fuel certificate, steam state/receiver evidence, full heat balance
cp_air	formalin_train	Fresh atmospheric resource input	Air meter and composition records	Fresh flow; recirculated flow; T/P/humidity/O2/N2; mass conversion; combustion air	Calibrated fresh-air flow and measured state/composition; retain recycled gas as internal link	kg	Meter interval; representative mode-specific composition	Same declared period	Fresh intake boundaries	per 1 kg reference flow	Calibration, gas state record and oxygen/carrier-gas balance
cp_emission	formalin_train	Each outdoor-air species and size fraction	Stack/fugitive sampling and operating records	Outlet; species/CAS; concentration; flow; time; T/P; wet-dry/O2 corrections; detection limits; recovery; control modes; leak/load events; NOx definition; size bins	Species-specific validated sampling/analysis and compatible gas flow after final controls; integrate actual operating modes and measured handling/LDAR releases. Carbonyl sampling/analysis must demonstrate matrix recovery; occupational concentration alone is not a plant release inventory	kg; gas volume as raw record	Representative tests for each operating mode plus continuous/event records where needed	Same period; include starts/stops, loading, relief and maintenance	Final stack, loading vents and actual fugitives	per 1 kg reference flow	Laboratory QA blanks/spikes, flow calibration, sampling recovery, leak/event log, uncertainty
cp_waste	formalin_train	Each external residual interface	Weighbridge, assay and receiver records	Stream/source; consignment; wet mass/volume/density; solids; Ag or organic fractions; actual pollutants; internal rework; recipient; treatment/product status	Calibrated weighing/volume measurement and representative composition tests; separate catalyst, paraformaldehyde deposits, aqueous waste and biological sludge; document receiver acceptance	kg; volume/density as raw records	Every shipment or discharge; period reconciliation	Same period including episodic cleaning	Actual external receiver interfaces	per 1 kg reference flow	Waste transfer receipts, assay/solids basis, receiver and treatment evidence
cp_effluent	formalin_train	Each final freshwater species and carrier water	Outfall flow and analytical records	Whole effluent volume/wet mass; measured carrier-water fraction/density/state; temperature; species/CAS; free/total HCHO definition; methanol; pH/formic acid/formate; COD/TOC; solids; treatment performance; recovery; detection limits	Calibrated final outfall flow with time-matched samples; matrix-validated free-carbonyl analysis, supplemented where needed for total HCHO-equivalent. Retain COD/TOC/salt diagnostics separately; track all measured additional species; preserve total effluent sampling volume separately from the verified water-constituent exchange	kg species; m3 water	Flow interval, representative mode-specific composites and every episodic discharge	Same declared period	Actual final surface-freshwater boundary only	per 1 kg reference flow	Laboratory QA/recovery/speciation, calibrated flow, destination and treatment logs
cp_allocation	formalin_train	Joint and dedicated environmental burdens	Stage/receiver/market records	Stage meters; dedicated/joint burden pools; accepted formalin; useful net steam; receiver function; physical relationship; actual prices/quantities; uncertainty	Investigate subdivision/expanded-system option first; verify causal relationship or gather comparable same-period gate revenue records; retain physical ledger separately	kg formalin; MJ useful heat; actual currency and unit prices	Same-period records; update when outputs/markets change	Same declared period	Declared joint stages and actual receivers	per 1 kg reference flow	Stage causality, functional/price evidence, rejected alternatives and sensitivity

Calculation Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Formula or rule	Inputs	Output	source_ids
c_reference	all inventory rows	B = accepted net formalin supply mass for the period in kg; each measured period boundary quantity is divided by B. The reference product amount is 1 kg; all stage internal links retain both endpoints and are not additional boundary outputs.	cp_product; each row's linked protocol	Physical inventory per 1 kg reference flow	jrc-lvoc-2017, hexion-formalin
c_composition	out_formalin, in_methanol, w_aqueous	Constituent mass = measured supply/stream mass × measured mass fraction on the same basis. Report HCHO-equivalent, methanol, water and impurities separately; total HCHO-equivalent is not free gas mass or TOC. Use the measured overall water convention and derive methanol only after separately measured non-overlapping impurities; propagate all measurement uncertainty. This analytical ledger and true molecular-species ledger are alternatives, not additive physical outputs. No default assay or density.	cp_product; cp_material; cp_waste	Component ledger in kg, alongside full mixture mass	jrc-lvoc-2017, hexion-formalin, iso-formalin-assay-1972, breitkreuz-formalin-analysis-2023
c_release	elementary outputs	Released species mass = sum over measured operating intervals of compatible species concentration × actual gas/liquid flow × time, after unit/state/recovery corrections; add independently measured event/fugitive releases without overlap. NOx and particle intervals must have verified compatible definitions. The whole sampled gas/liquid volume belongs to the concentration integration; its component water or air exchange is not another independent carrier mass.	cp_emission; cp_effluent	Actual released species kg; carrier water m3 separately	jrc-lvoc-2017, epa-carbonyl-8315a
c_heat	in_steam, out_steam	For a mass-closed steam-to-condensate service interval, Q_net = m × (h_supply - h_condensate) / 1000, with m in kg, h from iapws-if97-2012 in kJ/kg and Q_net in MJ. Integrate actual intervals. For unequal returns, include every documented water/steam port and storage change on a common enthalpy reference; a mass imbalance cannot be hidden in this formula. Reconcile gross generation = actual own use + useful export + measured losses and inventory change, with imports separate. Do not use a mass-to-MJ constant or assume the provider reference is net heat.	cp_energy	Separate imported/exported useful heat in MJ	jrc-lvoc-2017, iapws-if97-2012
c_burden	burden_account	For each evidenced joint pool, product-assigned burden = dedicated product burden + joint burden × justified product share; divide by B for product reporting. Keep actual coproduct physical outputs unchanged and show shares summing to one; an expanded-system model is disclosed separately.	cp_allocation; cp_product; stage meters	Allocated formalin environmental-burden account	eu-ef-2021-allocation

Data Quality Requirements

requirement_id	Applies to	Requirement	Evidence
q_identity	all rows	Verify name/CAS, route/state, origin, actual mixture composition, medium, reference property/unit and provider definition separately. A confirmed flow UUID is not a complete dataset; incompatible identity or quantity basis remains open.	Supplier/receiver declarations; direct identity and native property/unit chain; lab method
q_closure	physical_ledger	Close mass, water, carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and heat using measured stocks/returns; disclose residual and uncertainty without an invented tolerance, conversion, yield or concentration. Include atmospheric carriers and reaction water in the unallocated physical ledger. Reconcile molecular hydrogen production, internal combustion/recycle, residual emissions and any actual external recovery separately; add verified sale rows if an actual recovery crosses the boundary. Do not suppress an actual product to fit the minimum checklist.	Stage meters, independent assays and reconciliation
q_sources	all source-based rules	Retain each source's route and conditions. BREF historical/2013–2014 observations are not present-site values, universal ratios or default emissions. Hexion supports supply state only; EPA 8315A supports free-carbonyl analysis with matrix limits, not commercial total assay. ISO2227 supplies the industrial HCHO-equivalent procedure; the reactive-mixture study supplies overall-water analysis and composition convention; IAPWS supplies water/steam state properties. Their matrix, phase, time and validity limits remain binding, and reported research uncertainties are not universal acceptance thresholds.	Original locators and actual collection evidence
q_coverage	dataset	Every conditional row is measured, demonstrated absent or explicitly unresolved. Unknown is not zero. Add actual exchanges outside the minimum checklist, including actual products and recovered streams, and retain treatment/site/provider completeness and operating-mode representativeness.	Site flow diagram, monitoring/stock/receiver records and omissions register

9. Validation Rules

rule_id	applies_to	rule	source_ids
v_reference	dataset	Require one accepted out_formalin reference output at 1 kg full supply mixture; collect all qualifiers and actual assay/state. Internal same-solution staging is not another reference output. Reject a pure-HCHO, different mixture or excluded-route substitution.	jrc-lvoc-2017, hexion-formalin
v_measurement	all inventory rows	Require the same per 1 kg supply-mass denominator in inventory, collection and calculation; verify all unit conversions, steam state/provider bases and gas volume conventions. A missing utility UUID/provider alone does not invalidate the defined mass/state/enthalpy method, but the actual dataset link remains incomplete until quantity compatibility is verified.	jrc-lvoc-2017, iapws-if97-2012
v_environment	elementary outputs	Check exact final media/species/origin/phase, carbonyl assay coverage, NOx definition and disjoint particle intervals. Exclude correction flows and avoid untreated/final or aggregate/species duplication. Retain actual biogenic CO2 in LCI if present, with a separate origin row.	jrc-lvoc-2017, epa-carbonyl-8315a
v_balances	physical_ledger, burden_account	Require unallocated physical closure, equal internal endpoints, separate external treatment interfaces and final nature releases, and transparent allocated joint pools. Physical coproduct outputs cannot be scaled by burden shares or netted away.	jrc-lvoc-2017, eu-ef-2021-allocation
v_gaps	dataset	A blank UUID retains one specific exchange and a review gap; resolve its identity/provider before a complete usable dataset. Preserve unresolved assays, unsupported monitoring/quantity bases and missing streams as incomplete findings. Candidate methodology and structural checks do not establish independent scientific approval.	jrc-lvoc-2017

10. Published Dataset Profile

Field	Value
dataset_role	secondary_dataset; background_dataset
downstream_use	Composition- and route-compatible purchased formalin input, after complete foreground collection and independent review
allowed_use	The declared actual aqueous methanol-stabilised grade, silver high-conversion route, bulk gate and dedicated thermal-oxidiser/heat-recovery configuration
excluded_use	Section 1 exclusions; assuming 1 kg pure HCHO; other product concentrations/provider quantity bases; automatic steam displacement credits; claiming PEF compliance solely from the allocation hierarchy
required_metadata	All reference qualifiers; geography/time; process map; component and internal link ledger; provider/receiver references; operating modes; allocation method and shares
required_quality_disclosure	Measurement/assay/closure uncertainty; temporal and route representativeness; incomplete identity/provider links; additional/absent exchanges; historical source limitations; scientific and translation state
update_trigger	Product grade/composition, methanol origin/provider, catalyst form, process/control configuration, utility pressure/reference, waste receiver, treatment or allocation/market change

11. Data Sources

Source id	Type	Reference	Used for
jrc-lvoc-2017	official_guidance	European Commission JRC, LVOC BREF 2017, JRC109279, DOI 10.2760/77304; official original, Chapter 6, printed pp.335–348 and 350–353 (PDF372–385,387,389–390), especially 6.2.2.1/Fig6.1, 6.3.1–6.3.5, 6.4.1.1.1, 6.4.1.3 and 6.4.2.1	Silver-route decomposition, tail-gas control/heat recovery, solution/carrier-water distinction, measured final species, episodic wastewater/rework, catalyst/deposit streams and monitoring conditions. Other routes and historical plant quantities remain excluded from defaults.
hexion-formalin	literature	Hexion, Formalin product original, “Confidence built into every delivery”, aqueous solution concentrations and tailored methanol inhibition; dated source snapshot 2026-10-13	Producer evidence of aqueous supplied mixtures and actual grade diversity only; no process attribution or standard recipe.
epa-carbonyl-8315a	method_factor	US EPA, Method 8315A, Revision1, December1996, Sections1–3, procedure1; aqueous/waste samples and Method0011 stack samples	Free-carbonyl HPLC/derivatisation scope, unfamiliar-matrix confirmation, method recovery/interference requirements. It does not establish total commercial formalin assay or a universal emissions factor.
eu-ef-2021-allocation	official_guidance	European Commission, Recommendation (EU)2021/2279 AnnexesI–II, AnnexI Section4.5, PDF/printed pp.63–64	General multifunctionality hierarchy and justification of causal/economic allocation only. Sector-specific exceptions and recycling formulas are not imported; no full PEF compliance claim.
iso-formalin-assay-1972	method_factor	ISO2227:1972, Formaldehyde solutions for industrial use — Determination of formaldehyde content, Sections 1–9, printed pp.1–2; publisher, complete method preview	Industrial solution HCHO-equivalent mass-fraction assay, weighed sampling, neutral sulphite/acid titration; clear/slightly cloudy 25–45% applicability, precipitation and prompt-sampling limits. No pure-gas denominator or default factory composition.
breitkreuz-formalin-analysis-2023	literature	Christian Frederik Breitkreuz, Thermodynamic Properties of Formaldehyde Solutions and Poly(oxymethylene) dimethyl ether (OME) Production, Scientific Report Series41, ISBN978-3-944433-34-9, 2023; original, Sections2.3–2.4.3, AppendixA.1–A.2, printed pp.7–12,137–138	Overall versus true-species convention, sulphite overall-HCHO assay, conditioned volumetric KF overall-water assay and ternary methanol closure. Phase, time, impurity and matrix limitations retained; no OME manufacture, equilibrium parameters, research uncertainty or ignored-acid assumption imported.
iapws-if97-2012	method_factor	IAPWS R7-97(2012), Revised Release on the IAPWS Industrial Formulation1997 for the Thermodynamic Properties of Water and Steam; official original, Sections2–3,5–9,12, including Tables3/12/31 and saturation equations	Ordinary water/steam state enthalpy and validity/uncertainty reference for actual mass/state heat measurement. No utility pressure, dryness, provider quantity, calorific-value conversion or constant kg-to-MJ factor.