Process for the manufacture of dinitriles

Abstract From the Canadian patent

A process and catalyst for the manufacture of dinitriles from dicarboxylic acids and ammonia is disclosed. A vapourized mixture of an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid and anhydrous ammonia is contacted with a dehydration catalyst and the dinitrile so formed separated from the mixture. The dehydration catalyst is a boron phosphate catalyst containing 0.1 to 1.5% of potassium borate and 0.02 to 1.36% of potassium sulphate, the percentages being calculated on a weight basis using the amounts of potassium and boron phosphate.