Conitration of mixed aromatic hydrocarbons

摘要

This invention relates to the preparation of a mixture of nitroaromatic compositions, particularly a mixture of mononitrobenzene and dinitrotoluene. The conitration of a mixture of aromatic hydrocarbons is accomplished by contacting the mixture of hydrocarbons with nitric acid, in the absence of sulfuric acid, at temperatures of from about 40 DEG to 70 DEG C. By the use of nitric acid alone, one avoids the heterogeneous nitration associated with the use of sulfuric acid and thereby one can effectively produce a reaction mixture containing mononitrobenzene and dinitrotoluene.