To obtain the subject compound useful as a raw material for fibers, synthetic resins, etc., in high selectivity by carrying out vapor-phase catalytic oxidation reaction of an alkane having a specific carbon number with NH3 using a specific gas composition under a specific reaction condition in a reactor containing a composite metal oxide catalyst.
The objective α,β-unsaturated nitrile (e.g. acrylonitrile) can be produced in high selectivity by supplying a reaction gas containing 10-90vol.% of a 1-8C alkane (e.g. propane) and having compositional molar ratios of alkane : ammonia : oxygen : diluent gas of 1:(0.01-0.9):(0.1-1.8):(0-9) to a reactor containing a composite metal oxide catalyst, reacting with ammonia by vapor- phase catalytic oxidation reaction under a condition to keep the conversion of the supplied alkane to ≤70%, separating the reaction product from a gaseous reaction product flowing out of the reactor, separating and recovering a gaseous component composed mainly of unreacted alkane from the gaseous effluent after separating the reaction product and returning the separated and recovered gaseous component composed mainly of the unreacted alkane to the reactor.
OSHIMA KAZUNORI
IHARA TATSUYA
KAYOU ATSUSHI
SAWAKI ITARU
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