Patent ID: 8110073

Claim:
A process for the preparation of an aromatic amine by catalytic hydrogenation of the corresponding aromatic nitro compound and the purification thereof by distillation comprising: a) hydrogenating the aromatic nitro compound in liquid phase at a temperature of from 100 to 200° C. in a reaction vessel in the presence of a catalyst to form a reaction mixture containing amine and water and to generate heat, b) separating water from the reaction mixture containing amine and water by a single distillation in a distillation column to obtain a purified amine containing water in an amount of less than 20 wt. %, based on the weight of the mixture, c) using at least a portion of the heat from the hydrogenation of step a), either directly or indirectly, to heat the distillation in step b), and d) operating the distillation column with an absolute head pressure of less than 1 bar.