Process for the production of iminodiacetonitrile
AssigneeDegussa AG
InventorsHelmut Suchsland, Volker Hafner, Axel Kleemann
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Abstract
The invention is directed to a process for the production of iminodiacetonitrile by reaction of hexamethylenetetramine with hydrogen cyanide in acidic aqueous mediums. In this process the pH during the reaction which is 5.5 to 7.5 at the beginning is progressively lowered, altogether around 0.5 to 3.5 units and free formaldehyde is present only to a slight extent. Through this and in contrast to the known processes the formation of byproducts is suppressed and iminodiacetonitrile is produced directly in very good yields and sufficiently pure for further use.
Claims14
A process for the production of iminodiacetonitrile comprising reacting hexamethylenetetramine with hydrogen cyanide in aqueous acidic medium at 30.degree. to 90.degree. C. and adding acid in such manner to the reaction mixture that the reaction begins at pH of about 5.5 to 7.5 and is reduced during the reaction by about 0.5 to 3.5 units and also so controlling the addition of the acid that the concentration of free formaldehyde present does not exceed about 3 weight percent.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.