FIELD: chemistry.
SUBSTANCE: method involves feeding a gas containing hydrogen and a compound containing at least one nitrile group into a piston reactor in which circulates a reaction medium containing particles of a suspended catalyst based on a Raney metal, a mineral base and water, with extraction at the output of the piston reactor of a portion of the reaction medium containing, after separating the catalyst, a compound which contains at least one amine group, with subsequent recirculation of the other portion of the reaction medium into the piston reactor, recirculation of the separated catalyst into the piston reactor and feeding a new catalyst into the piston reactor. A portion of the separated catalyst is taken to a regeneration process which involves a first step for washing with water in order to remove organic compounds, a second step for treatment with a strong base and a third step for washing with aqueous solution of an alkali metal hydroxide and/or water.
EFFECT: method enables to maintain catalyst activity at the required level with low catalyst consumption with respect to the amine compound formed.
26 cl, 2 dwg, 2 ex
