PNNL

Abstract

Summary Acrylonitrile (ACN) is one of the most important industrial intermediates for the production of a variety of commodities that are intertwined with our daily life. Currently, ACN is mainly produced using the commercial propylene-based process (i.e., the SOHIO process). Driven by the climbing cost of propylene, alternative feedstock such as propane and biomass-derived compounds have been studied. In this review, we summarize the advances in the catalytic production of ACN with the above-mentioned feedstocks. In particular, we briefly summarize the well-established catalysts (i.e., BiMo-based and Sb-based ones) for propylene ammoxidation. Then, we focus on the development of catalysts for the ammoxidation of propane (e.g., Mo-V-Nb-Te-based, Sb-V-based, and other novel catalytic systems) as well as in the conversion of biomass-derived compounds. Finally, perspectives on catalyst design and engineering control for the next generation of ACN production processes will be presented. This work was supported by the US Department of Energy (DOE), the Office of Science (SC), the Basic Energy Sciences (BES), and the Division of Chemical Sciences, Geosciences, and Biosciences within the Catalysis Science program (DE-AC05-RL01830 and FWP-47319).