Abstract:
A method of producing stabilized crude acetonitrile (i.e. acetonitrile which has been treated to substantially eliminate polymerization of the acetonitrile upon vaporization) which comprises mixing crude acetonitrile, a strong base and aldehyde together, heating to the reflux temperature of the mixture to stabilize the crude acetonitrile and recovering the stabilize acetonitrile. This stabilized acetonitrile is utilized to manufacture hydrogen cyanide.