Hydrogen cyanide Fluohmic

The Shawinigan process uses a unique reactor system (36,37). The heart of the process is the fluohmic furnace, a fluidized bed of carbon heated to 1350—1650°C by passing an electric current between carbon electrodes immersed in the bed. Feed gas is ammonia and a hydrocarbon, preferably propane. High yield and high concentration of hydrogen cyanide in the off gas are achieved. This process is presently practiced in Spain, AustraUa, and South Africa. 

The fluohmic process is a third process for manufacturing hydrogen cyanide, which is being appHed in Spain and AustraUa. This process involves the reaction of ammonia with a hydrocarbon, usually propane or butane, in a fluidized bed of coke particles. The endothermic heat of reaction is suppHed electrically through electrodes immersed in the fluid bed. Yields from propane and ammonia are reportedly above 85% and the waste gas is essentially hydrogen, but the costs for electricity are high. Thus this process is appHcable only when there is an inexpensive source of power. 

Plants for the production of sodium cyanide from Andmssow process or from acrylonitrile synthesis by-product hydrogen cyanide are operating in the United States, Italy, Japan, the UK, and AustraUa. In Germany, sodium cyanide is produced from BMA hydrogen cyanide, and in AustraUa one plant uses Fluohmic process hydrogen cyanide. 

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