Catalytic synthesis of acetonitrile was carried out successfully with fluidized-bed reactors of 1.5-, 3-and 8-inch diameters, respectively.
The main results obtained were as follows:
I) Results with 1.5-inch reactor:
1) The reaction rate was expressed as the first order for acetylene and zero order for hydrogen and ammonia.
2) The experimental data were in good agreement with those on a model of piston flow as in the case of the fixed bed.
3) The rate of the reaction was much smaller than that in the case of the fixed bed, and varied with the height of catalyst bed.
4) The experimental formula of rate constant was given by:
kp=2.19×105(L)-0.54exp.(-E/RT)
II) The results with 3-and 8-inch reactors were as follows:
1) The results with 3-inch reactor as well as with 8-inch reactor proved to be almost similar to those with 1.5-inch reactor, when the rate of gas flow was kept low.
2) As the size of the reactor became larger and the rate of gas flow higher, the conversion of acetylene increased.
