Catalyst Selectivity for Epsilon-Caprolactam Production
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Solution Overview
Problem
The production of ε-caprolactam from adipic acid using existing methods results in insufficient selectivity due to the formation of by-products during the conversion of adipamide, which do not contribute to the formation of ε-caprolactam.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a catalyst with a metal oxide mainly containing oxides of vanadium, niobium, tantalum, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, zinc, gallium, indium, thorium, germanium, tin, or lead, combined with a metal or metal compound having hydrogenation ability, is used to react adipamide with hydrogen and ammonia, suppressing side reactions and enhancing ε-caprolactam selectivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If existing methods are used to produce ε-caprolactam from adipic acid, then the production process can proceed, but ε-caprolactam selectivity is insufficient due to remarkable formation of by-products
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the catalyst system by specifying a metal oxide component mainly containing oxides of specific metallic elements (vanadium, niobium, tantalum, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, zinc, gallium, indium, thorium, germanium, tin, or lead) combined with a metal or metal compound having hydrogenation ability. This parameter change in catalyst composition selectively promotes the desired reaction pathway while suppressing side reactions, thereby improving ε-caprolactam selectivity and reducing by-product formation during the conversion of adipamide
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite catalyst material consisting of two distinct components: a metal oxide mainly containing oxides of specific metallic elements and a metal or metal compound having hydrogenation ability. This composite catalyst structure allows the two materials to work synergistically, where the metal oxide component promotes selective reactions and the hydrogenation component suppresses unwanted by-product formation, thereby resolving the contradiction between maintaining production and improving selectivity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach significantly increases ε-caprolactam selectivity by reducing the formation of non-contributory by-products, allowing for higher yields of ε-caprolactam and its intermediate 5-cyanovaleramide.
Implementation Method 1
reacting adipamide, formed from a material compound, with hydrogen and ammonia in the presence of a catalyst, wherein the catalyst comprises a metal oxide mainly containing an oxide(s) of one or more metallic elements selected from the group consisting of vanadium, niobium, tantalum, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, zinc, gallium, indium, thorium, germanium, tin, and lead
Implementation Method 2
a metal and/or a metal compound having a hydrogenation ability
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is a method of producing ε-caprolactam through adipamide as an intermediate, and characteristically includes a lactamization step of reacting adipamide, formed from a material compound, with hydrogen and ammonia in the presence of a catalyst containing: a metal oxide mainly containing an oxide(s) of one or more metallic elements selected from the group consisting of metallic elements of group 5 and groups 7 to 14 in the 4th to 6th periods of the periodic table; and a metal and/or a metal compound having a hydrogenation ability. The method can increase the selectivity of ε-caprolactam.