Patent ID: 7495136
Filing Date: 2009-02-24
Classification: C07C

Abstract:
1. A process for the production of dinitrotoluene by the nitration of toluene with nitrating acid comprising: a) reacting an organic phase comprising toluene with an aqueous phase comprising nitrating acid to form a reaction mixture containing mononitrotoluene, b) separating the reaction mixture containing mononitrotoluene into an organic phase containing mononitrotoluene and an aqueous phase containing sulfuric acid, c) reacting the organic phase containing mononitrotoluene with nitrating acid to form a reaction mixture containing dinitrotoluene, and d) separating the reaction mixture containing dinitrotoluene into an organic phase containing dinitrotoluene and an aqueous phase containing sulfuric acid in which 1) a weight ratio of the aqueous phase to the organic phase in step a) is >2:1, 2) a weight ratio of the aqueous phase to the organic phase in step c) >1.5:1, 3) the organic phase is dispersed in the aqueous phase in step a), 4) the organic phase is dispersed in the aqueous phase in step c), and 5) less than 2.06 moles of nitric acid are used per mole of toluene.