Patent ID: 7326816

Claim:
A process for the production of nitrobenzene comprising a) reacting benzene with nitrating acid to form nitrobenzene, b) washing the nitrobenzene formed in a) with water in an acidic wash, c) washing the nitrobenzene from b) with water in an alkaline wash, d) washing the nitrobenzene from c) with water in a neutral wash, and e) removing water and benzene from the nitrobenzene washed in d) to obtain purified nitrobenzene, in which step d) comprises: (i) mixing the nitrobenzene from c) with water in a mixer to at least partially disperse an organic phase substantially containing nitrobenzene in the water and form a dispersion, and (ii) feeding the dispersion into an electrophoresis unit in which the dispersion is broken down by applying a direct-current electric voltage.