| abstract |
The invention relates to an improved process for the production of a formamide, wherein a current of a gas containing carbon monoxide is reacted at elevated temperature (50°-200° C) and pressure (5-110 bars) in a reaction zone with a recycled current of liquid reaction mixture containing n (a) a nitrogen-containing compound selected from the group consisting of ammonia, a primary alkylamine and a secondary alkylamine (e.g. monomethylamine or dimethylamine); n (b) a methanolic solution of an alkali metal or earth metal methoxide as catalyst, and n (c) the formamide produced as reaction product, n Part of the current of liquid reaction mixture being withdrawn in order to recover the formamide therefrom. n The characteristic feature of the invention consists in that the recycled liquid reaction mixture is used for sucking and dispersing the current of gas in the reaction zone. Advantages of the process are: excellent heat exchange, high productivity and yield, absence of solid deposits on the internal surfaces of the apparatus, lower operating pressures and temperatures, use of apparatus of smaller dimensions, suppression of recycling of carbon monoxide, continuous operation etc. |