PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF FATTY ACID NITRILES AND GLYCERIN FROM GLYCERIDES

Glycerides are reacted with ammonia in an amount of at least 200 liters per kilogram of glyceride per hour, at a temperature of 220 DEG to 300 DEG C., and in the presence of special catalysts. Of the product mixture which is formed and removed from the reaction with the excess ammonia, and which is composed essentially of the components water, the desired glycerol and fatty acid nitrile containing fatty acid and fatty acid amide, the latter component is returned to the reaction during the glyceride reaction. After completion of the glyceride reaction, which is indicated when the product mixture contains virtually no more glycerol, all the fatty acid nitrile containing fatty acid and fatty acid amide is further treated, in an after-reaction with a reduced amount of ammonia and at higher temperature, in order to convert the fatty acid and fatty acid amide impurities into fatty acid nitrile.