The Versalis/Lummus technology for cyclohexanone oxime production is via the ammoximation process developed by Versalis (formerly EniChem) in the 1990s and demonstrated at commercial scale since 2001. Cyclohexanone and ammonia react in the presence of hydrogen peroxide utilizing Versalis’ proprietary Titanium Silicalite catalyst (TS-1). The ammoximation technology is a direct, single-step reaction to oxime, wherein no upstream hydroxylamine formation step is required, and no ammonium sulfate is co-produced, offering advantages in capital investment, operating costs, and environmental footprint over conventional technology. In commercial operation, the oxime produced with this technology is used directly in the production of caprolactam, and subsequently, Nylon 6, an important polyamide Nylon offering superior properties for use in textiles, fibers, automotive parts, and other consumer goods.
The Ammoximation unit can be paired with the Versalis/Lummus technology for cyclohexanone production by phenol hydrogenation to achieve further process integration efficiencies.
Benefits
The single-step Ammoximation technology for cyclohexanone oxime offers the following benefits:
- Lower capital investment due to the elimination of upstream hydroxylamine synthesis
- No co-production of ammonium sulfate, eliminating an environmental pollutant requiring disposal in convention technologies
- Standout plant safety due to advanced reactor safety system, mild reaction conditions, and specialized reactor design