Haldor Topse A/s

Brian Kjærgaard Olsen

Poul Erik Højlund Nielsen

Lived J Lemus-Yegres

Rasmus Munksgård Nielsen

In a process for steam reforming of oxygenates, especially at low steam-to-carbon (S/C) ratios, a feed gas containing oxygenates, such as ethanol, is converted into syngas over a ternary carbide catalyst. Then the reformed gas is either transformed into desired chemicals or mixed into the feed stream to the reformer in a plant, such as an ammonia or methanol plant. The preferred ternary carbide is nickel zinc carbide.

Process for steam reforming of oxygenates and catalysts for use in the process

The invention relates to a process for producing a product gas comprising acetonitrile and/or hydrogen cyanide from a feed stream comprising ammonia and methanol over a solid catalyst comprising a support, a first metal and a second metal on the support, wherein the first metal and the second metal are in the form of a chemical compound, wherein the first metal is Fe, Ru or Co and the second metal is Sn, Zn, or Ge. The pressure is ambient pressure or higher and the temperature lies in a range from about 400&#xb0; C. to about 700&#xb0; C. Thus, the process for producing acetonitrile and/or hydrogen cyanide from ammonia and methanol may be catalyzed by a single catalyst and may be carried out in a single reactor. The invention also relates to a catalyst, a method for activating a catalyst and use of a catalyst for catalysing production of acetonitrile and/or hydrogen cyanide from ammonia and methanol.

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Copenhagen, Denmark

Brian Kjærgaard Olsen