ammoksidaatio

Ammoksidaatio is a chemical process that involves the simultaneous oxidation and amination of an organic substrate. This reaction typically converts a hydrocarbon into a nitrile. A common example is the SOHIO process, which converts propylene, ammonia, and oxygen into acrylonitrile. This process is widely used in the industrial production of acrylonitrile, a key monomer for synthetic fibers like acrylics and ABS plastics.

The general mechanism of ammoksidaatio often involves a heterogeneous catalyst, typically a metal oxide based catalyst, operating at elevated temperatures and pressures. The catalyst plays a crucial role in activating the hydrocarbon, facilitating the addition of ammonia, and promoting the oxidation step. The reaction proceeds through a series of intermediate steps involving the formation of surface-bound species and the abstraction of hydrogen atoms.

The key reactants are a hydrocarbon (often an alkene or alkane), ammonia, and an oxidant, usually air or pure oxygen. The products are a nitrile, water, and other byproducts depending on the specific reactants and reaction conditions. Selectivity towards the desired nitrile is a critical factor in process design, and catalyst development is focused on maximizing this selectivity while minimizing the formation of unwanted byproducts. Variations of the ammoksidaatio process are used for the production of other nitriles as well.