SOLVENT TRANSFER PROCESS FOR DINITROGEN PENTOXIDE

摘要

A process for the production of dinitrogen pentoxide (N2O5) in an organic solvent consists of dividing off a minor proportion (31) of the anolyte stream (11) of an electrolytic cell (2) which is set up to generate N2O5 and of cooling that portion and/or adding to the portion a quantity of N2O4, such that two phases are formed. The phases are separated (34) and the light (upper) N2O4 phase is then stripped of dissolved N2O5 the N2O5 being redissolved in an organic solvent. Conveniently, the N2O4 phase is chilled (at 41) to produce crystalline N2O5 which is dissolved in an organic solvent such as dichloromethane. All effluent streams may be recycled with addition only of fresh concentrated nitric acid and fresh N2O4 to make the process capable of continuous operation.