Systems and methods for producing nitriles
An aspect of the present disclosure is a method that includes a first reacting a molecule from at least one of a carboxylic acid, an ester of a carboxylic acid, and/or an anhydride with ammonia to form a nitrile, where the first reacting is catalyzed using an acid catalyst. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the molecule may include at least one of acetic acid, lactic acid, and/or 3-hydroxyproprionic acid (3-HPA). In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the molecule may include at least one of methyl acetate, ethyl lactate, and/or ethyl 3-hydroxypropanoate (ethyl 3-HP). In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the anhydride may be acetic anhydride.
1. A method comprising:
a first reacting of a molecule consisting of at least one of lactic acid, 3-hydroxypropionic acid, ethyl lactate, ethyl 3-hydroxypropanoate, or acetic anhydride with ammonia to form a nitrile, wherein:
the first reacting is catalyzed using a catalyst comprising TiO 2 .
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
prior to the first reacting, an initial reacting of at least one of lactic acid or 3-hydroxypropionic acid with an alcohol to produce at least one of ethyl lactate or ethyl 3-hydroxypropanoate and water, wherein:
the first reacting regenerates the alcohol.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first reacting is performed with both the molecule and the ammonia in a gas phase.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the initial reacting is performed by contacting the at least one of lactic acid or 3-hydroxypropionic acid and the alcohol with a mineral acid.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first reacting is performed at a molar ratio of the molecule to the ammonia between 1:1 and 10:1.
6. A method comprising:
reacting an anhydride with ammonia to form a nitrile, wherein:
the reacting is catalyzed using a catalyst comprising TiO 2 ,
the nitrile consists of
and
R 1 consists of at least one of an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, a phenyl group, a carbonyl group, an aldehyde group, a carbonate group, a carboxylic acid group, or an ester group.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the nitrile is acrylonitrile.
8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the nitrile is acetonitrile.