Imperial Chemical Industries Limited

Alan J Tompsett

David G Parker

A process for the manufacture of methylamines comprises reacting a feed comprising methanol and/or dimethylether and ammonia over a binderless zeolite A catalyst, preferably a binderless zeolite 5A catalyst. Use of binderless zeolite 5A makes the process attractively selective to dimethylamine in preference to mono- and tri-methylamine. In addition, if the catalyst is essentially free of alkali metal it is not only more active than similar catalysts containing alkali metal but also considerably more selective.

Manufacture of amines

Manufacture of amines by reacting alcohols with ammonia in the presence of a catalyst comprising zeolite FU-1 in which some or all of the protons of the zeolite have been replaced by monovalent cations, for example sodium. The process is especially useful for the manufacture of methylamines in which the proportions of monomethylamine and dimethylamine obtained are selectively increased in preference to trimethylamine.

Manufacture of amines from alcohols with zeolite FU-1 catalysts

A process for the manufacture of an amine by reacting an alcohol, for example methanol, with ammonia at an elevated temperature in the presence of the hydrogen form of zeolite FU-1 or zeolite FU-1 in which some or all of the protons have been replaced by bivalent or trivalent cations.

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Middlesbrough, United Kingdom

Alan J Tompsett