Degussa Aktiengesellschaft

Lukas V Hippel

Dietrich Arntz

Armin Neher

Christian Bussek

A method of producing cyanopyridines by means of the catalytic reaction of methylpyridines with ammonia and oxygen at elevated temperature using catalysts consisting of compounds of the elements antimony, vanadium, silicon, titanium and oxygen and compounds of one or more of the alkali metals as well as a method of producing the catalysts and the catalysts themselves.

Catalyst for the production of cyanopyridines

A process for the highly efficient production of hydrocyanic acid by reacting methane and ammonia to yield hydrocyanic acid in a reactor heated by the combustion of fuel gases and coated with a catalyst. The process is characterized in that the reactor consists of a monolithic arrangement of heating and reaction channels, wherein the fuel gas and a gas containing oxygen pass through the heating channels and the reactants pass through the reaction channels, the internal walls of which are coated with the catalyst. The fuel gas is burned in the heating channels. The monolithic structure of the reactor is such that the heating channels and reaction channels are in intimate contact. The cross-section of the channels and the wall thicknesses thereof may be reduced without any loss of mechanical stability. Wall thicknesses of 0.1 to 1 mm are completely adequate. The heating and reaction channels of the reactor may be arranged in alternating layers, wherein the axial directions of the heating and reaction channels may enclose an angle of between 0.degree. and 90.degree.. If the angle is 0.degree., the heating and reaction channels are parallel and the heating and reaction gases may pass through them co- or counter-currently.

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Alzenau, Germany

Lukas V Hippel