Niacin by vapour phane catalytic oxidation of Beta picoline

Dr. Shailendra Singh

Niacin, also known as Vitamin B3 or Nicotinic acid, is one of the eight water soluble ‘B’ vitamins which regulates and assists carbohydrate, fat & productive metabolism, maintains the  central nervous system, responsible for maintaining the healthy skin, tongue and digestive systems and prevents pellagra.

The conventional method for niacin production is liquid phase oxidation of beta Picoline involving large amount of acids, especially, nitric acid for oxidation. This process suffers in the separation of nicotinic acid, formation of high amount of harmful solids due to neutralization of nitric acid and huge amount of NOx formation. Most of the valuable frame work carbon in form of CO2 is lost. This renders the process less efficient and highly pollutant and forms a big threat to environment and overall community.

This has triggered impulse for developing new and more efficient selective catalytic process. Niacin production via catalysis, where chemical  conversion consisting a  number of individual reaction steps, are brought about in one reaction step by applying multi functional catalyst, makes the process much more cleaner ,greener (eco-friendly) and carbon efficient. An innovative vapour phase catalytic air oxidation process for niacin production has been developed by Jubilant Organosys Ltd., involving fixed bed catalytic reactor. The process is continuous and catalyst is robust, regenerable with high selectivity and long life.