Reactor and the use thereof for producing cyanides

Reactor for converting methane, ammonia and oxygen and alkaline or alkaline earth hydroxides into alkaline or alkaline earth cyanides by two-stage reactions;

• 1—a catalytic reaction process over a catalyst material between ammonia, methane and oxygen wherein hydrogen cyanide, carbon monoxide/dioxide and water are formed, wherein the reaction gases are mixed, and
• 2—the gases being cooled prior to being absorbed with an alkaline or alkaline earth hydroxide for producing a corresponding cyanide, characterized in the reactor comprising a first stage with a gas inlet (I), wherein the first stage is formed by a cone (H) with distribution plates (G) providing an even gas distribution over the catalyst material (C) wherein the distribution plates (G) are located between the gas inlet (I) of the reactor and the catalyst material (C), and the distribution plates (G) being perforated with a number of holes with a diameter less than 20 mm with a pitch larger than 1 diameter, with the distribution plates spaced from each other in the flow direction of the gas, the first distribution plate (Gα) functioning mainly to distribute the gas, whereas the last distribution plate (Gω) works as a heat radiation shield and as a distribution plate facing the catalyst material (C), and wherein the catalyst material (C) is present in the form of catalyst gauze (C) fixed by catalyst weights (B).