| abstract |
A process of reforming an alkyleneamine feedstock or a mixture of such feedstocks to an alkyleneamine or a mixture of alkyleneamines which is different from the feedstock or feedstock mixture. The process is catalyzed by one of the following: Group VB metal oxides, Group VB metal phosphates, Group IIA metal silicates, and tungsten oxides. For example, ethylenediamine is contacted with a catalyst of niobic acid or magnesium silicate to yield predominantly diethylenetriamine and non-cyclic triethylenetetramines; whereas high molecular weight polyethylenepolyamines are cracked by the same catalysts to mixtures of lower molecular weight linear and cyclic materials. |