Acrylonitrile is a chemical compound with the formula C 3H 3N. This colorless liquid often appears yellow due to impurities. It is an important monomer for the manufacture of useful plastics such as polyacrylonitrile. In terms of its molecular structure, it consists of avinyl group linked to a nitrile. The acrylonitrile is a colorless to pale yellow liquid and volatile liquid that is soluble in water and most common organic solvents such as acetone, benzene, carbon tetrachloride, ethyl acetate, and toluene. It melts at 84 degrees C and boils at 77 degrees C. Technical-grade acrylonitrile is more than 99% pure and always contains a polymerization inhibitor. Acrylonitrile is a reactive chemical that polymerizes spontaneously, when heated, or in the presence of a strong alkali unless it is inhibited, usually with ethylhydroquinone. Acrylonitrile is a commodity petrochemical that is a significant propylene derivative. It is manufactured by the ammoxidation of propylene. Major uses for acrylonitrile are as a monomer for such products as polyacrylonitrile for acrylic fibers, in ABS and SAN resin manufacture as a modifying monomer, and as a chemical intermediate in the manufacture of adiponitrile, acrylamide and a variety of other chemicals.
PROCESS
Acrylonitrile is produced by ammoxidation of propylene. Propyelne, ammonia and air are reacted in a fluidised bed reactor to produce acrylonitrile with acetonitrole and hydrogen cyanide as by products. The original catalyst consisted of bismuth phosphomolybdate on silica, but recent catalyst developments have improved yields and can boost capacity of existing plants by 20%. BP Amco Chemicals, Asahi Chemicals, and Mitsubishi Chemicals are working on a new generation propane based technology. Since the price of propane is lower than that of propylene, producers have focused on the research on propane ammoxidation process for producing acrylonitrile.
USES
Acrylonitrile is primarily used in the manufacture of acrylic and modacrylic fibers. It is also used as a raw material in the manufacture of plastics (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene and styrene-acrylonitrile resins), adiponitrile, acrylamide, and nitrile rubbers and barrier resins
APPLICATIONS
Acrylonitrile is used as feedstock for the production of products such as acrylamide, acrylic fibers, adiponitrile, ABS and SAN resins, nitrile rubber
INDIAN SCENARIO
Reliance Industries Ltd., is the only producer of acrylonitrile in India
Installed capacity: 41,000 metric tonne per annum
Indian demand: Around 1,40,000 metric tonne per annum.
GLOBAL SCENARIO
At present, the world total production capacity of acrylonitrile is 6.4 million metric tonne per year. The enterprises with large production capacity are INEOS Group, with production capacity of 1.043 million metric tonne per year, Ascend Performance Materials, Inc. of America, with production capacity of 520,000 metric tonne per year, Japan Asahi Kasei of 500,000 metric tonne per year. The world acrylonitrile demand is about 6 million metric tonne. The major world acrylonitrile consuming regions are Asia, Europe and North America.