Abstract: A process for the nitrilation of a fatty acid or of a fatty acid ester, which is optionally unsaturated, by reacting the fatty acid or fatty acid ester with ammonia in a reactor operating continuously in the gas phase or in the mixed gas-liquid phase in a temperature range of from 180 to 400° C., in the presence of a solid catalyst comprising at least one metal oxide, the metal of which belongs to column 8 of the periodic table, as a mixture with at least one metal oxide chosen from aluminum oxides, zirconium oxides, niobium oxides, tantalum oxides and tin oxides, the metal oxide(s), the metal of which belongs to column 8, being present in a volume ratio of 0.1 to 0.6 relative to the volume of the mixture of all the oxides.

Abstract: A process for the nitrilation of a fatty acid or of a fatty acid ester, which is optionally unsaturated, by reacting the fatty acid or fatty acid ester with ammonia in a reactor operating continuously in the gas phase or in the mixed gas-liquid phase in a temperature range of from 180 to 400° C., in the presence of a solid catalyst comprising at least one metal oxide, the metal of which belongs to column 8 of the periodic table, as a mixture with at least one metal oxide chosen from aluminum oxides, zirconium oxides, niobium oxides, tantalum oxides and tin oxides, the metal oxide(s), the metal of which belongs to column 8, being present in a volume ratio of 0.1 to 0.6 relative to the volume of the mixture of all the oxides.