GB229774A - Process for the production of hydrocyanic acid - Google Patents

Abstract

Catalysts for the production of hydrocyanic acid are supported upon clay, carbides or silicides, for instance calcium silicide, titanium and zirconium carbides, silit, siloxicon or carborundum. The catalysts mentioned are oxides of the rare earths (including cerium, lanthanum and didymium) thorium, titanium, vanadium molybdenum, and uranium, alone or in admixture with other oxides such as alumina. Specifications 223,918 and 229,973 are referred to.ALSO:In the production of hydrocyanic acid by the reaction of gaseous carbon compounds and gaseous nitrogen compounds, such as carbon monoxide and ammonia in presence of a catalyst, the catalyst employed consists of oxides of rare earth metals such as cerium, lanthanum or didymium or of titanium, vanadium, molybdenum, uranium or thorium, alone or in admixture with other oxides such as alumina and with or without a carrier such as clay, or a carbide or silicide, for instance calcium silicide, titanium and zirconium carbides, carborundum, silit, and siloxicon. An excess of the gaseous carbon compound may be employed, and hydrogen or nitrogen may be added as described in Specification 229,973, to prevent decomposition of the ammonia and hydrocyanic acid, and for the same reason too high temperatures are avoided. Crude gas mixtures such as coal gas, water gas, and coke oven gas may be employed. The apparatus employed should not be constructed of iron. Copper or ceramic material is suitable. Specification 223,918 also is referred to.