The present invention relates to a process for preparing alpha-hydroxycarboxylic esters from the alcoholysis of alpha-hydroxycarboxamides in the gas phase, characterized in that the conversion is effected in the presence of water.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing alpha-hydroxycarboxylic esters from the alcoholysis of alpha-hydroxycarboxamides in the gas phase, characterized in that the conversion is effected in the presence of water.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing alpha-hydroxycarboxylic esters from the alcoholysis of alpha-hydroxycarboxam ides in the gas phase, characterized in that the conversion is effected in the presence of water.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing alpha-hydroxycarboxylic esters from the alcoholysis of alpha-hydroxycarboxam ides in the gas phase, characterized in that the conversion is effected in the presence of water.

Endothermic reactions (those whose heat of reaction is positive) may be controlled in a truly isothermal fashion with external heat input applied directly to the solid catalyst surface itself and not by an indirect means external to the actual catalytic material. This heat source can be supplied uniformly and isothermally to the catalyst active sites solely by conduction using electrical resistance heating of the catalytic material itself or by an electrical resistance heating element with the active catalytic material coating directly on the surface. By employing only conduction as the mode of heat transfer to the catalytic sites, the non-uniform modes of radiation and convection are avoided permitting a uniform isothermal chemical reaction to take place.

Endothermic reactions (those whose heat of reaction is positive) may be controlled in a truly isothermal fashion with external heat input applied directly to the solid catalyst surface itself and not by an indirect means external to the actual catalytic material. This heat source can be supplied uniformly and isothermally to the catalyst active sites solely by conduction using electrical resistance heating of the catalytic material itself or by an electrical resistance heating element with the active catalytic material coating directly on the surface. By employing only conduction as the mode of heat transfer to the catalytic sites, the non-uniform modes of radiation and convection are avoided permitting a uniform isothermal chemical reaction to take place.

A reactor system and a process for carrying out the reaction of a feed gas comprising an alkane such as methane, and ammonia to hydrogen cyanide and/or a nitrile are provided, where the heat for the endothermic reaction is provided by resistance heating. In particular, the reaction is the BMA (Blausure aus Methan und Ammoniak) reaction.

A process for carrying out an endothermic reaction of a feed gas in a reactor system including a pressure shell housing a structured catalyst arranged for catalyzing the endothermic reaction of a feed gas, the structured catalyst including a macroscopic structure of electrically conductive material, the macroscopic structure supporting a ceramic coating, the ceramic coating supporting a catalytically active material.

A catalyst network comprising at least one noble metal wire that contains at least one dispersion-strengthened noble metal alloy. The invention also relates to a catalyst system containing at least one catalyst network according to the invention, and to a method for the catalytic oxidation of ammonia in which a catalyst network according to the invention is used.

The invention relates to catalytically active heating elements, and to the production and use thereof in the production of hydrogen cyanide (HCN). The problem addressed by the invention is that of providing thermally stable and catalytically active heating elements with which a BMA process can be simultaneously electrically heated and chemically catalysed. In particular, the heating elements should be thermally and mechanically stable in continuous industrial operation and retain their catalytic activity. The heating element according to the invention has a layered structure (A, B, C) formed from (A) silicon carbide (SiC), (B) aluminium nitride (AlN) and (C) platinum (Pt). The silicon carbide (SiC) serves as an electric heating resistor. The platinum (Pt) serves as catalyst. Aluminium nitride (AIN) is arranged as a protective layer between platinum (Pt) and silicon carbide (SiC). It prevents platinum (Pt) and silicon carbide (SiC) from alloying during ongoing operation.