PRODUCTION OF LACTAMIDE

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for producing lactamide from lactonitrile at high yield while maintaining high catalytic activity for a long term. SOLUTION: A lactamide is produced by hydration of lactonitrile in the presence of manganese oxides as a principal component of a catalyst in a system added by hydrogen cyanide. Hydrogen cyanide is added in a quantity of 0.1-0.5 wt.% to a lactonitrile aqueous solution in this case. Manganese dioxide is preferably used as the catalyst in a state modified by including an alkali metal element such as sodium or potassium.