Patent ID: 7128815

Claim:
A process for the recovery of acrylonitrile from contaminated acrylonitrile or fresh acrylonitrile having 0.5–1% moisture content or a mixture thereof in a waste stream, the process consisting of: (a) vaporizing the contaminated acrylonitrile or fresh acrylonitrile having 0.5–1% moisture content or a mixture thereof in an agitated thin film evaporator (ATFE) running at a speed of 600–1200 rpm, at a temperature of 100–150° C. under reduced pressure of 60–250 mm Hg abs, to obtain a vapor feed; (b) contacting the vapor feed so obtained with a hydrophilic agent; and (c) condensing the contacted vapor feed to obtain the desired acrylonitrile.