Abstract:A catalyst Co20.0-Ni3.0/-Al2O3 for the synthesis of butyronitriles through the ammoniation of butanols was selected and its structure was characterized. Then, the process and the stability of the catalyst were investigated for the synthesis of butyronitriles through the ammoniation of butanols using Co20.0-Ni3.0/-Al2O3 as catalyst in a fixed-bed reactor. When the reaction was run at 410 ℃(420 ℃) under the parameters which the molar ratio of ammonia to butanol is 3 : 1, LHSV is 0.3 h-1 (0.2 h-1) and pressure is 0.1 MPa, respectively, the conversion of n-butanol (i-butanol) and the yield of n-butyronitrile (isobutyronitrile) were 100% and 81.6 % (80.6 %), respectively. The activity of the catalyst was maintained and the selectivity for butyronitrile decreased less than 1 % after the catalytic run was lasted for 100 h, which revealed that the catalyst has good performance and stability in application.