Process for chemical reactions involving cyanohydrins

A method for minimizing decomposition of cyanohydrins in an exothermic reaction process involving cyanohydrins and which produces a quantity of heat, said cyanohydrins being selected from the group consisting of acetone cyanohydrin and methyl ethyl ketone cyanohydrin, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a reaction medium to a tubular reactor containing at least one reaction zone therein and having internal mixing means positioned in said at least one reaction zone;
• (b) providing one or more reactants to said tubular reactor;
• (c) mixing said reaction medium with said one or more reactants in said at least one reaction zone, thereby forming a bulk reaction mixture having a substantially homogenous composition and a substantially homogenous reaction temperature;
• (d) removing a quantity of heat from the exothermic reaction process, said quantity of heat being equivalent to said quantity of heat produced by the exothermic reaction process;
• and
• (e) reacting said one or more reactants in said at least one reaction zone to produce a mixed product having a bulk temperature.