Process for the continuous production of nitrobenzene

A process for the continuous preparation of nitrobenzene, comprising:

• a) adiabatically reacting a benzene-containing stream in a reactor with sulfuric acid and nitric acid using a, based on nitric acid, stoichiometric excess of benzene, to obtain a process product containing nitrobenzene, benzene and sulfuric acid;
• b) (i) passing the process product containing nitrobenzene, benzene and sulfuric acid into a gas separator in which a gaseous phase comprising benzene and gaseous secondary components is removed from the process product, leaving a liquid phase comprising nitrobenzene and sulfuric acid and depleted of gaseous constituents;
• (ii) passing the liquid phase produced in step b)(i) into a phase separation apparatus in which the liquid phase is subjected to a phase separation, wherein a liquid aqueous, sulfuric acid-comprising phase and a liquid organic, nitrobenzene-comprising phase are withdrawn from the phase separation apparatus;
• and
• c) working up the liquid organic, nitrobenzene comprising phase to obtain the nitrobenzene.