Verfahren zur Herstellung von Acrylsaeurenitril aus Dicyandiaethylaether

The invention comprises the processes for making acrylonitrile by (1) pyrolysing a , b 1-dicyanodiethyl ether at 150-750 DEG C., and (2) condensing lactonitrile (or acetaldehyde and HCN) with acrylonitrile to produce a , b 1-dicyanodiethyl ether, pyrolysing this at 150-750 DEG C. to acrylonitrile and water, and recycling part of the acrylonitrile for condensation with lactonitrile (or acetaldehyde and HCN). The pyrolysis step may be effected in the absence of an added catalyst, or by dropping the ether on to a heated dehydration catalyst, such as phosphoric acid, pyrophosphoric acid, metaphosphoric acid, alkali or alkaline earth metal oxides, hydroxides, carbonates and borates and salts of fatty acids, alkali metal and ammonium phosphates, zinc salts, aluminium salts and aluminium oxide, or by passing the vaporized ether through a bed of dehydration catalyst, such as activated alumina, pumice, diatomaceous earth, fullers earth, silica gel, alundum, thoria and dehydrating clays, or a supported catalyst such as phosphoric acid or ammonium phosphates or zinc chloride on a solid carrier such as activated alumina, pumice, kaolin, clay, firebrick, or silica gel.