Propane ammoxidation to acrylonitrile: an overview

The main aspects of the new reaction of direct (one-stage) propane ammoxidn. to acrylonitrile (ACN) are analyzed with ref. to the development of the catalysts for this reaction, the main technol. options for the process and relationship with reaction conditions, the reaction network and kinetics of the reaction. In particular it is shown that i) V-Al-antimonate based mixed oxides are promising catalytic systems for the selective formation of ACN from propane in the absence of gas-phase additives, ii) ACN forms through the intermediate formation of propylene and the factor controlling the selectivity to ACN is the rate of the reaction for the formation of ACN from the intermediate propylene (rate which critically depends on the availability of ammonia on the catalyst surface), and iii) kinetic and economic analyses suggest the use of a process involving a high propane concn. with O2 and NH3 as limiting reagents to recycle unreacted propane. [on SciFinder(R)]