In the SOHIO process, propylene, ammonia and air (oxidant) are passed through a fluidized bed reactor containing the catalyst, bismuth phosphomolybdate base at 400-510 ° C and 50-200 kPa g.
The reactants pass through the reactor only once, before being cooled in aqueous sulfuric acid. The excess of propylene, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and nitrogen that do not dissolve is vented directly to the atmosphere or incinerated.
The aqueous solution consists of acrylonitrile, acetonitrile, hydrocyanic acid and ammonium sulfate produced from excess ammonia.
A recovery column removes water and acrylonitrile and acetonitrile are separated by distillation.
Historical plaque conferred by ACS to INEOS
by the chemical framework of the SOHIO
process for the production of acrylonitrile