Patent ID: 6894163

Claim:
A method for producing ε-caprolactam, which comprises contacting cyclohexanone oxime with a solid acid catalyst in a gaseous phase to effect a rearrangement reaction of said cyclohexanone oxime, said solid acid catalyst being produced by calcining a dried catalyst precursor, said catalyst precursor comprising a zeolite, a crystalline clay mineral and at least one substance selected from the group consisting of an inorganic oxide and a compound which forms said inorganic oxide by calcination, wherein said crystalline clay mineral is at least one member selected from the group consisting of a 1:1 clay mineral and a 2:1 clay mineral, said inorganic oxide comprises an oxide of at least one element selected from the group consisting of elements belonging to Groups 4, 13 and 14 of the Periodic Table and wherein said inorganic oxide is other than oxides contained in a crystalline form in said zeolite and said crystalline clay mineral.