Abstract: Disclosed is a process for preparing adiponitrile from acrylonitrile in an electrolytic cell. An aqueous electrolyte comprising acrylonitrile converts to adiponitrile in the presence of a solid anode and in the absence of a solid cathode. The cathode comprises gas plasma.

Abstract: A solvent is at least partially separated from a catalyst. The catalyst comprises nickel and a bidentate phosphorus-containing ligand. The method for separation involves distilling a catalyst solution. The ratio of 2-pentenenitrile to 3-pentenenitrile in distillation column bottoms is controlled to reduce the amount of 3-pentenenitrile which is isomerized to form 2-methyl-3-butenenitrile. Isomerization of 3-pentenenitrile to 2-methyl-3-butenenitrile and subsequent isomerization of 2-methyl-3-butenenitrile to 2-methyl-2-butenenitrile, and/or hydrocyanation of 2-methyl-3-butenenitrile to methylglutaronitrile represents a loss in adiponitrile yield in a process for making adiponitrile.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for recovering diphosphonite-containing compounds from mixtures comprising organic mononitriles and organic dinitriles, using multistage countercurrent liquid-liquid extraction. Recovery is enhanced with one or more method steps. In a first step, a portion of the heavy phase from the settling section of the first stage is recycled to the settling section of the first stage. In a second step, a portion of the light phase from the settling section of the first stage is recycled to the mixing section of the first stage. In a third step, the first stage takes place in a mixer-settler, a Lewis base is introduced into the settling section of the first stage, and a complex of Lewis acid and Lewis base is formed in this settling section. In a fourth step, a polyamine is added to the first stage.

Abstract: Pentenenitrile oligomers formed in a process for isomerizing cis-2-pentenenitrile to 3-pentenenitrile are minimized in the presence of an aluminum oxide catalyst. The process comprises providing an aluminum oxide catalyst having an alkali metal and/or alkaline earth metal and/or iron content, measured in the form of alkali metal oxide and/or alkaline earth metal oxide and/or iron oxide, respectively of less than 5000 ppm by weight.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for isomerizing cis-2-pentenenitrile to 3-pentenenitrile in the presence of a non-aluminum metal oxide catalyst, wherein: (a) the metal in the catalyst has an oxidation state in the range from +1 to +4; (b) the metal has a cation radius in the range from 0.35 to 1.0 ?; (c) the metal of the catalyst has a polarizing power, C/r, is in the range from 2 to >8, wherein C is the charge of the metal and r is the ionic radius in ?; (d) the bond network of the catalyst has a % ionicity of >20; (e) the metal oxide has an acidity strength in the range from strong to very weak; and (f) the metal oxide has a basicity (nucleophilicity) strength of weak to strong.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for recovering diphosphite-containing compounds from mixtures comprising organic mononitriles and organic dinitriles, using liquid-liquid extraction. Also disclosed are treatments to enhance extractability of the diphosphite-containing compounds.

Abstract: A solvent is at least partially separated from a catalyst. The catalyst comprises nickel and a bidentate phosphorus-containing ligand. The method for separation involves distilling a catalyst solution. The ratio of 2-pentenenitrile to 3-pentenenitrile in distillation column bottoms is controlled to reduce the amount of 3-pentenenitrile which is isomerized to form 2-methyl-3-butenenitrile. Isomerization of 3-pentenenitrile to 2-methyl-3-butenenitrile and subsequent isomerization of 2-methyl-3-butenenitrile to 2-methyl-2-butenenitrile, and/or hydrocyanation of 2-methyl-3-butenenitrile to methylglutaronitrile represents a loss in adiponitrile yield in a process for making adiponitrile.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for recovering diphosphonite-containing compounds from mixtures comprising organic mononitriles and organic dinitriles, using liquid-liquid extraction. Also disclosed are treatments to enhance extractability of the diphosphonite-containing compounds.

Abstract: Pentenenitrile oligomers formed in a process for isomerizing cis-2-pentenenitrile to 3-pentenenitrile are minimized in the presence of an aluminium oxide catalyst. The process comprises providing an aluminium oxide catalyst having an alkali metal and/or alkaline earth metal and/or iron content, measured in the form of alkali metal oxide and/or alkaline earth metal oxide and/or iron oxide, respectively of less than 5000 ppm by weight.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for isomerizing cis-2-pentenenitrile to 3-pentenenitrile in the presence of a non-aluminium metal oxide catalyst, wherein: (a) the metal in the catalyst has an oxidation state in the range from +1 to +4; (b) the metal has a cation radius in the range from 0.35 to 1.0 ?; (c) the metal of the catalyst has a polarising power, C/r, is in the range from 2 to >8, wherein C is the charge of the metal and r is the ionic radius in ?; (d) the bond network of the catalyst has a % ionicity of >20; (e) the metal oxide has an acidity strength in the range from strong to very weak; and (f) the metal oxide has a basicity (nucleophilicity) strength of weak to strong.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for recovering diphosphite-containing compounds from mixtures comprising organic mononitriles and organic dinitriles, using liquid-liquid extraction. Also disclosed are treatments to enhance extractability of the diphosphite-containing compounds.