Dilute acid oxidation of dinitrotoluene alkaline wash water

摘要

A process for removing nitrocresols in a crude aqueous alkaline dinitrotoluene wash stream derived by nitration of toluene using a mixed acid technique followed by treatment with aqueous alkaline material in which the crude aqueous alkaline dinitrotoluene wash stream is mixed with a dilute oxidizing acid such as nitric acid, heated to 130 DEG to 180 DEG C. for a period of time required to reduce the nitrocresols to a level at which it does not precipitate from the mixed acidic wash stream at temperatures above about 60 DEG C., and removing the remaining nitrocresols by conventional methods such as adsorption or activated sludge biotreatment.