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 selected from the group consisting of a carboxylic acid, an ester of a carboxylic acid, an anhydride, or a combination thereof with ammonia to form acrylonitrile, wherein the first reacting is catalyzed using an acid catalyst.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the molecule is selected from the group consisting of a C3-carboxylic acid, an ester of the C3-carboxylic acid, or a combination thereof.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the molecule is selected from the group consisting of a hydroxylated carboxylic acid, an ester of the hydroxylated carboxylic acid, or a combination thereof.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the carboxylic acid is selected from the group consisting of 3-hydroxypropionic acid, lactic acid, or a combination thereof.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the ester of carboxylic acid is selected from the group consisting of an alkyl lactate, alkyl 3-hydroxypropanoate, methyl acrylate, or a combination thereof.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the alkyl lactate is selected from the group consisting of ethyl lactate, methyl lactate, or a combination thereof.
7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the alkyl 3-hydroxypropanoate is selected from the group consisting of ethyl 3-hydroxypropanoate, methyl 3-hydroxypropionate, or a combination thereof.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the catalyst is a solid acid catalyst.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the solid acid catalyst comprises at least one of a clay mineral, a metal oxide, a metal sulfide, a metal salt, a mixed oxide, a sulfate-promoted metal oxide, a phosphated metal oxide, a mounted acid, a perfluorinated polymeric sulfuric acid, a heteropolyacid, or a combination thereof.
10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the solid acid catalyst comprises at least one of titania, niobia, alumina, zirconia, or a combination thereof.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the solid acid catalyst comprises titania.
12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the solid acid catalyst comprises a phosphated metal oxide.
13 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
prior to the first reacting, an initial reacting of at least one of the carboxylic acid with an alcohol to produce at least one of the ester of carboxylic acid and water, wherein:
the first reacting regenerates the alcohol.
14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first reacting is performed with both the molecule and the ammonia in a gas phase.
15 . 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.
16 . A method comprising a first reacting of a molecule selected from the group consisting of a carboxylic acid, an ester of a carboxylic acid, an anhydride, or a combination thereof with ammonia to form acrylonitrile, wherein the first reacting is catalyzed using a phosphated metal oxide.