Patent ID: 6201096
Filing Date: 2001-03-13
Classification: C08G

Abstract:
A continuous process for the manufacture of polyamide from omega-aminoitrile comprising the steps of:a) providing a vertical countercurrent multistage reactor, said reactor being equipped with internal perforated barrier means for establishing a plurality of stages and for effecting contact of countercurrently flowing omega-aminonitrile stream and steam vapor stream;b) introducing an omega-aminonitrile reactant stream near the top of said vertical countercurrent multistage reactor;c) introducing a steam vapor containing stream near the bottom of said vertical countercurrent multistage reactor;d) maintaining the temperatures and the pressure within said vertical countercurrent multistage reactor from 190.degree. C. to 290.degree. C. and 50 psig to 800 psi to achieve hydrolysis of the omega-aminonitrile in the upper stages of the reactor and simultaneously to achieve polymerization in the lower stages of the reactor;e) withdrawing a steam and ammonia containing stream overhead of said vertical countercurrent multistage reactor; andf) recovering a polyamide containing product stream from the bottom of said vertical countercurrent multistage reactor, wherein said polyamide has unreacted nitrile end groups of less than 20 gram equivalents per million grams of polyamide.