METHOD OF PRODUCING AQUEOUS SOLUTION OF ACRYLAMIDE UTILIZING BIOCATALYST Russian patent published in 2008 - IPC C07C231/06 C12P13/02 C12M1/02 

FIELD: industrial organic synthesis.

SUBSTANCE: method consists in hydration of acrylonitrile in aqueous solution in presence of biocatalyst, which involves mixing reaction mixture containing acrylonitrile, biocatalyst, and water in reactor provided with closed circulation circuit through which a part of reaction mixture is pumped and wherein at least one heat-exchanger is incorporated. Acrylonitrile is continuously supplied to circulating stream in a point disposed upstream to the point from which reaction mixture is returned to reactor. In this case, concentration of acrylonitrile and/or acrylamide in circulating stream is measured in a point upstream to the point, in which acrylonitrile is added to circulating stream. As biocatalyst, strain Rhodococcus rhodochrous is used. Invention also relates to apparatus for production of acrylamide aqueous solution comprising reactor with circulation circuit incorporating at least one heat-exchanger. In circulation circuit, in the section located immediately before the point from which reaction mixture is returned to reactor, there is a point to receive acrylonitrile, while an on-line device designed to measure concentrations of acrylonitrile and/or acrylamide in circulating stream is incorporated in circulation circuit.

EFFECT: prolonged lifetime of catalyst, reduced amount of biocatalyst, suppressed formation of by-products, and optimized level of conversion of acrylonitrile into acrylamide.

19 cl, 4 dwg, 1 tbl