The liquid-phase catalytic hydrogenation of benzonitrile to benzylamine was carried out in 2-propanol using Raney nickel as a catalyst. The effects of hydrogen partial pressure (500-2000 kPa), reaction temperature (328-358 K), catalyst loading (2-8 g dm(-3)), benzonitrile concentration (0.4-1.6 mol dm(-3)) and additives (acetic acid, water and liquor ammonia) on the hydrogenation of benzonitrile and the yield of benzylamine have been studied. The speed of stirring >15 rps has no effect on the initial rate of reaction. Effect of various solvents (2-propanol, methanol and dimethylformamide) on the hydrogenation of benzonitrile has been investigated. The reaction was found to be first order with respect to the hydrogen partial pressure and benzonitrile concentration. The activation energy for the catalytic hydrogenation of benzonitrile was found to be 60.27 U mol(-1). (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.