Patent ID: 8324435

Claim:
A mixed liquid-vapor phase process for making a nitrated hydrocarbon composition containing two or more compounds of formula I: R—NO 2 (I) wherein R is independently in each compound C 1 -C 12 hydrocarbon group optionally substituted with 1 or 2 additional NO 2 groups, the process comprising: (a) forming a reaction mixture comprising a hydrocarbon feedstock and an aqueous feed, wherein the aqueous feed comprises water, between about 10 and about 50 weight percent of nitric acid, and at least about 15 weight percent of a carboxylic acid of formula II; wherein R 1 is C 1 -C 12 alkyl or C 3 -C 12 cycloalkyl; and (b) reacting the mixture at a reaction pressure of at least 500 psi and a reaction temperature of less than about 325 degrees Celsius to provide a product stream comprising the nitrated hydrocarbon composition.