PROCESS FOR THE CONTINUOUS PRODUCTION OF SODIUM AZIDE

The present invention deals with the continuous production of sodium azide from sodium amide and nitrous oxide. This reaction takes place on a support material for sodium amide consisting of a mixture of sodium azide and sodium hydroxide. This mixture is passed through a reactor maintained at temperatures of between 200 DEG and 270 DEG C.; a portion of the reaction product and the support material are transferred out of the system at an end of the reactor, and a primary quantity of the reaction product and support material are returned to the reactor inlet where the material is combined with fresh, heated sodium amide in an amount corresponding to the quantity of sodium azide transferred-out with the reaction product and support material. With the aid of this continuous process, higher space-time yields of sodium azide can be obtained than in case of the conventional methods without increasing the danger of no longer controllable explosions.