Destruction of nitrated aromatics

摘要

A process for destroying nitrated aromatics, e.g., the nitrophenol byproducts produced in the nitration of benzene to dinitrobenzene, is disclosed. The process involves treatment of an aqueous solution of the nitrated aromatics with iron and hydrochloric acid with or without ferric chloride using 0.2 to 7 molecular equivalents of finely divided iron based on the organic nitro groups present. The reaction is carried out at 0 DEG to 100 DEG C. and pH 1.5-3.