Abstract:
Continuous production of alkali metal salts of nitrilotriacetic acid from an alkali metal cyanide, formaldehyde and ammonia by reaction of the components in at least two stages, the alkali metal cyanide being reacted with formaldehyde in stoichiometric or substantially stoichiometric ratio at temperatures of 50* to 200* and pressures of from atmospheric pressure to 50 atmospheres gauge in the presence of an excess of ammonia in the first stage and (while simultaneously removing ammonia) further amounts of alkali metal cyanide and formaldehyde being allowed to act at temperatures of 60* to 110*C in one or more subsequent stages, 5 to 35 mole percent of the total amount of alkali metal cyanide required being replaced by free hydrocyanic acid and/or hydroxyacetonitrile.
Abstract:
Production of alkali metal salts of nitrilotriacetic acid from an alkali metal cyanide, formaldehyde and ammonia by reaction in at least two stages, the alkali metal cyanide being reacted with formaldehyde in approximately stoichiometric ratio of 50* to 200* C. and 2 to 50 atmospheres gauge in the presence of an excess of ammonia in the first stage and the resultant solution (after decompression to atmospheric pressure) being treated in one or more further stages with further amounts of alkali metal cyanide and formaldehyde at 60* to 110* C. while removing ammonia at the same time.
Abstract:
A continuous process for the production of alkali metal salts of nitrilotriacetic acid by reaction in a first stage of alkali metal cyanide, formaldehyde and excess ammonia at superatmospheric pressure and elevated temperature to form an aminoacetic acid solution, followed by depressurizing and treating the solution obtained with further amounts of alkali metal cyanide and formaldehyde while removing the ammonia formed until conversion to nitrilotriacetic acid is complete.