About Acrylonitrile. Acrylonitrile (a.k.a. 2-Propenenitrile, Prop-2-enenitrile, Vinyl Cyanide) is an organic compound, consisting of a vinyl group linked to a nitrile, with worldwide production of more than 10 billion pounds per year. It is a colorless, volatile liquid with onion-like odor. It is a very reactive compound, due to its high polar nature (arising from the presence of the nitrogen heteroatom) and unsaturation. In the absence of a hydroquinone inhibitor, it polymerizes spontaneously when exposed to light, heat or in the presence of a strong alkali.

The chemist Charles Moureu is recognized as the first man to synthesize Acrylonitrile, in 1893. However, the compound became important only after the 1930s, when it started to be employed in the manufacture of synthetic fibers and rubbers. At this time, Acrylonitrile was a low-volume specialty chemical derived from acetylene and hydrogen cyanide at high costs. This remained unchanged until the breakthrough of the selective oxidation catalyst, which led to a significant reduction in the production costs. This catalyst allowed the production of Acrylonitrile from propylene - the route that is still the most widely used today. Currently, Acrylonitrile is produced by the vapor phase ammoxidation of propylene.

Recently, a propane ammoxidation process has also been industrially employed. Both processes generate acetonitrile and hydrogen cyanide as by-products. Some routes based on renewable raw materials are under development. One of them uses glycerol, obtained as by-product of biodiesel production.

Acrylonitrile Handling. Acrylonitrile is commonly transported via ISO tank container, bulk truck, rail car, drum, barge or ship. Storage tanks should be constructed at ground level and in the open air. If a leak develops, ground level construction improves the detection of any vapor emissions and allows natural ventilation to disperse these vapors. Storage tanks must be located away from potential sources of ignition, since mixtures of Acrylonitrile with air are flammable. Heat radiation from fires in an adjacent area should also be considered in choosing the tank location. In its liquid state, Acrylonitrile has a tendency to polymerize, which can be prevented by the addition of phenolic (e.g. methyl ether of hydroquinone or amine-based stabilizers and small quantities of water).

Acrylonitrile Production. Acrylonitrile production changed drastically in 1960, when vapor-phase ammoxidation of propylene was first employed commercially. Today, about 90% of Acrylonitrile production is based on this process. However, acrylonitrile may also be manufactured from propane and biomass-derived glycerol. Raw materials and the respective production processes employed in the manufacturing of Acrylonitrile are listed below.

Acrylonitrile Uses. The uses and applications of Acrylonitrile may vary according to its specification. The main forms of Acrylonitrile are analytical standard (98% minimum purity); technical grade (99% minimum purity); and inhibited (99% minimum purity, 35-45 ppm monomethyl ether hydroquinone inhibitor).

Acrylonitrile is used in the synthesis of acrylic or is copolymerized to yield thermoplastics with interesting properties, such as resistance to light and heat, as well as strength. It is also a chemical intermediate used in the production of acrylic acid, employed as building block for a variety of polymer formulations, nylon intermediate adiponitrile, and acrylamide, which is an intermediate in the production of relevant acrylic esters, such methyl acrylate.