AN ADIABATIC PROCESS FOR PRODUCING DINITROTOLUENE

摘要

Dinitrotoluene (DNT) is produced by the adiabatic nitration of toluene with nitr ic acid at a temperature of from about 60 to about 200.degree.C and at a molar rati o of toluene to nitric acid of from about 1:1.5 to about 1:3.0. The reaction mixture thus-obt ained is concentrated to a water content of up to 30% by weight. The dinitrotoluene wh ich is present in the reaction mixture is at least partially (if not completely) rem oved from the reaction mixture either before or after concentration of the reaction m ixture. The DNT which is still present in the vapor generated during the concentration o f the reaction mixture is kept liquid by the addition of a solvent to the vapors gener ated during concentration of the reaction mixture. The solvent added to vapor, togeth er with any DNT present in the vapor is recovered. This solvent/DNT mixture may be recycled directly to the reaction vessel. The solvent/DNT mixture may also be separated. The separated solvent may be recycled to the solvent addition step. T he separated DNT may be combined with the recovered DNT product or it may be recycled to the nitration reaction mixture.