Process for the preparation of aliphatic nitriles

Abstract

The present invention provides a process for preparing a high-quality aliphatic nitrile in a high yield at a low cost without the dissolution of a catalyst in the product, which comprises reacting an aliphatic carboxylic acid, a lower alkyl ester thereof or a fatty acid glyceride with ammonia in the presence of a solid catalyst which exhibits a high activity even at a reaction temperature of as low as 300.degree. C. or below and is difficultly soluble in the reaction fluid; and a process for the preparation of amines by hydrogenating the aliphatic nitrile prepared by the above process. Namely, the present invention provides a process for the preparation of an aliphatic nitrile by reacting an aliphatic carboxylic acid, a lower alkyl ester thereof or a fatty acid glyceride with ammonia in the presence of a composite oxide catalyst comprising titanium oxide as the main component; and a process for the preparation of amines by hydrogenating the aliphatic nitrile prepared by the above process.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.