Page 88 - Chemical and process design handbook

Speight_Part II_A 11/7/01 3:16 PM Page 2.29

ACRYLONITRILE 2.29

Fluid-bed Absorber
reactor
Crude acrylonitrile
Hydrogen
Off-gas
Acetonitrile cyanide
Acrylonitrile

Air
Water
Ammonia By-products
Propylene
FIGURE 1 Manufacture of acrylonitrile by the ammoxidation of propylene.

produced, behind polyester, nylon, and polyolefin. It is known primarily
for its warmth, similar to that natural and very expensive fiber, wool.
Acrylonitrile is also used to produce plastics, including the copolymer of
styrene-acrylonitrile (SA) and the terpolymer of acrylonitrile, butadiene,
and styrene (ABS).
Hydrogen cyanide, a by-product of acrylonitrile manufacture, has its
primary use in the manufacture of methyl methacrylate by reaction with
acetone.