Patent ID: 9284256
Filing Date: 2016-03-15
CPC Classification: C07C

Claim Text:
1. A continuous process for the production of nitrobenzene by nitration of benzene, comprising: a) reacting a benzene-comprising stream (a.1), which comprises at least 90 wt. % benzene, based on the total mass of (a.1), in a reactor with a mixture of sulfuric acid (a.2) and nitric acid (a.3) under adiabatic conditions, wherein benzene is used in a stoichiometric excess based on nitric acid (a.3), wherein the quantity M′ of the benzene-comprising stream (a.1) supplied to the reactor per hour is increased within a period from the beginning of the nitration until a preset target value for M′ is reached, b) separating the process product obtained in step a) into an aqueous phase comprising sulfuric acid (b.1) and an organic phase comprising nitrobenzene (b.2), c) concentrating the aqueous phase (b.1) obtained in step b) by evaporation of water to form an aqueous phase (c.1) with an increased sulfuric acid concentration compared with (b.1), wherein the phase (c.1) is partially to completely returned into step a) and used as a component of (a.2), and d) working up the organic phase (b.2) obtained in step b) to form pure nitrobenzene (d.1), wherein a benzene-comprising stream (d.2) is obtained, wherein the stream (d.2) is partially to completely returned into step a) and used as a component of (a.1), the recirculation of (d.2) already taking place during the period t, wherein at least during the period t only a benzene-comprising stream (a.1) having a content of aliphatic organic compounds of less than 1.5 wt. %, based on the total mass of (a.1), is supplied to the reactor.