The BMA process (Blausäure (hydrogen cyanide), Methane, Ammoniak (ammonia)) is a chemical process developed by Degussa^[1] for the production of hydrogen cyanide from methane and ammonia in presence of a platinum catalyst. Hydrogen cyanide is used in the chemical industry for the production of intermediate chemicals like acrylonitrile, methyl methacrylate, and adiponitrile.

The reaction equation is:

CH₄ + NH₃ → HCN + 3 H₂ ΔH_R = 251 KJ / mol

analog to the steam methane reforming (SMR) reaction of methane and water.

The reaction is extremely endothermic. The reactants react in a Platinum-covered pipe at temperatures around 1400°C. The reaction mixture contains around 23 Vol.-% HCN and 72 Vol.-% H₂ as well as minor quantities of ammonia, nitrogen, and unreacted methane.^[2]

The gaseous mixture is introduced in a scrubber and treated with an ammonia solution in order to separate the acidic HCN from the other gaseous components: H₂, CH₄, and N₂. In a second step the HCN is released by acidification of the solution, followed by a final distillation of the hydrogen cyanide. Because of the highly endothermic reaction, the BMA process is of lower importance for the production of HCN compared to the Andrussow oxidation.

[edit] References

1. ^ patent literature
2. ^ F. Endter (1958). "Die technische Synthese von Cyanwasserstoff aus Methan und Ammoniak ohne Zusatz von Sauerstoff". Chemie Ingenieur Technik 30 (5): 281–376. doi:10.1002/cite.330300506. 

[edit] External links

• Process description

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