Process for producing hydrocyanic acid
AssigneeArkema France
InventorsEnzo Formentin, Catherine Schafer
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Abstract
The present invention relates to an improved process for producing hydrocyanic acid by reaction of ammonia with methane in which a small amount of at least one sulphur-containing compound corresponding to the general formula R S (S)x—R′ is added, in which R and R′, which are identical or different, represent a linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl radical containing from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, and x is a number ranging from 1 to 5, to the reactive gas mixture before it passes over the catalyst. The process according to the invention makes it possible to obtain improved yields of HCN. Another subject of the invention relates to the use of the resulting product for producing methionine, acetone cyanohydrin, adiponitrile or sodium cyanide.
Claims15
A process for producing hydrocyanic acid in which a gas mixture comprising methane (or a natural gas) and ammonia and optionally air and/or oxygen, is passed over a platinum catalyst, wherein at least one sulfur-containing compound corresponding to the general formula (I):
- R—S—(S)x—R′ in which R and R′, which are identical or different, represent a linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl radical containing from 1 to 5 carbon atoms and x is a number ranging from 1 to 5, is present in the gas mixture.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.