Abstract
Behevior of HCN in the Nieuwland's catalyst has been studied. When C2H2 and HCN are passed through the catalyst solution containing CuCl and NaCl, total amount of acrylonitrile (AN), HCN evolved, and nitrogen compound in the catalyst are equivalent to HCN supplied. When supply of HCN is stopped after passing C2H2 and HCN into the catalyst solution for a some time, AN formation still continues for a long time. When a difinite amount of liquid HCN is added previously to the catalyst solution and C2H2 is passed at the reaction temperature of 90° C, only loss of HCN occurs at first stage of reaction, and after a certain induction period AN formation occurs, the formation rate of AN decrease gradually corresponding to the decrease of HCN concentration in the catalyst. On the contrary formation rate of acetylene polymer increase corresponding to the decrease of that of AN. However, total sum of the rate of all products is not changed during this reaction. Instead of HCN, the CuCN and HCl of equivalent amount to HCN are used, the mode of this reaction is not changed at all. Hence it has been considered that HCN supplied Nieuwland's catalyst changes to CuCN and HCl in the Newland's catalyst.
