Process for the production of dinitrotoluene and isomeric mixtures of dinitrotoluene

US5663462A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• BAYER HEALTHCARE LLC · DE

Inventors

• Uwe Klingler · Dormagen, DE
• Thomas Schieb · Rösrath, DE
• Gerhard Wiechers · Leverkusen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 4, 1996
• Grant date: Sep 2, 1997
• Expiry date: Jun 4, 2016

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C07C201/08
• WIPO field: Organic fine chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Dinitrotoluene and isomer mixtures of dinitrotoluene are produced in a single stage, continuous process by nitrating mononitrotoluene or an isomer mixture of mononitrotoluene in which the ortho-mononitrotoluene content is low with a nitrating acid made up of (1) from about 80 to about 100 wt. % inorganic constituents and (2) up to 20 wt. % organic constituents. The inorganic constituents of the nitrating acid include: (a) from about 60 to about 90 wt. % sulfuric acid, (b) from about 1 to about 20 wt. % nitric acid, and (c) at least 5 wt. % water. The organic constituents of the nitrating acid include: from about 70 to about 100% by weight nitrotoluene isomers and up to about 30% by weight nitration by-products. The nitration reaction is carrier out under adiabatic conditions. The molar ratio of nitric acid to mononitrotoluene during the nitration reaction is generally from about 0.7:1 to about 1.4:1. The phases generated during the nitration are subsequently separated and the acid phase is treated to remove at least 5 wt. % of the water present therein. The water may be removed by distillation or flash vaporization, optionally with simultaneous heat supply. After removal of the wat…