公开(公告)号：DE2737607A1

公开(公告)日：1979-03-01

申请号：DE2737607

申请日：1977-08-20

Applicant: HOECHST AG

Inventor： BILLENSTEIN SIEGFRIED DIPL CHE ,  KUKLA BRUNO ,  STAEHLER HERBERT DIPL CHEM DR

IPC: C07C20060101 ,  C07C31/22 ,  C11C1/00 ,  C07C120/00 ,  C07C121/00

Abstract: Fatty acid nitriles and glycerol are produced by reacting mono-, di- or triglycerides or their mixt., having the formula (I) (where R1, R2 and R3 are each satd. or unsatd. 3-23C hydrocarbon gps. opt. mono-substd. with OH) with ammonia in liquid phase in presence of a catalyst, at elevated temp. Process is improved by using as a catalyst a sulphonate (pref. an alkylarylsulphonate contg. 1-24C in the alkyl(s) and opt. up to two carboxyl gps.) or a carboxylate of Pb, Zn, Cd, Sn, Ti, Zr, Cr, Sb, Mn, Fe, Ni or Co. The temp. is pref. 220-240 degrees C until 30-70% of glycerol is removed; then the temp. is increased gradually or stepwise (over 0.5-5h) to 270-300 degrees C, and the reaction is completed at this temp. The reaction mixt. is then subjected to fractionation; the fatty acid amides are recycled, the fatty acid nitriles R1(R21R3)CN are sepd. from the aq. phase, from which glycerol is subsequently sepd. by the known methods. Method is esp. suitable for processing natural, vegetable or animal fats, but synthetic fats can also be used. The one-stage process is relatively inexpensive. High yields are obtd. (fatty acid nitriles =97% theor,; glycerol =95% theor). The process can be carried out continuously. The fatty acid nitriles can be converted into corresp. amines by hydrogenation.