Method of producing hydrogen cyanide

US6096173A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Degussa AG · DE

Inventors

• Lukas von Hippel · Alzenau, DE
• Andreas Gutsch · Thedinghausen, DE
• Roland Schaffer · Gelnhausen, DE
• Manfred Sauer · Wilhelmshaven, DE
• Rudolf Vanheertum · Alzenau, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 7, 1998
• Grant date: Aug 1, 2000
• Expiry date: Dec 7, 2018

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C01C3/025
• WIPO field: Materials, metallurgy
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A method of producing hydrogen cyanide by the gas-phase reaction of methane with ammonia at elevated temperature and an ammonia/methane ratio of 1.001 to 1.1. The conducting of the gaseous reaction mixture through a corona discharge causes the reaction to start at temperatures below 1000.degree. C. without the action of a catalyst. This results in considerable savings of the necessary investment expenses as well as of the running costs for energy.