Liquid-phase Hydration of Acrylonitrile on the Nickel Oxide Catalysts

Abstract

The liquid-phase hydration of acrylonitrile was carried out on the nickel oxide catalysts. The NiO(A) catalyst obtained by thermal decomposition of Ni(OH)₂ in a stream of decarbonated dry air selectively gives acrylamide. On the other hand, the NiO(B) catalyst obtained by thermal decomposition of NiCO₃·Ni(OH)₂ gives the maximum amount of bis(2-cyanoethyl)ether and small amount of ethylene cyanohydrin together with acrylamide. The product distributions on the two NiO catalysts are similar to those of the acid-base-catalyzed homogeneous hydration of acrylonitrile in liquid phase. Therefore, the acid and base properties of the two NiO specimens were examined. The acidic property was observed on the NiO(A)catalyst, while the basic property was found on the NiO(B) catalyst. A good relationship between the catalytic activity including conversion and selectivity and the amount of acid or base on both NiO catalysts was found out.