Nitration process

A continuous atmospheric process to nitrate a nitratable aromatic compound in a nitronium ion solution in a nitrator, the process comprising:

• (a) introducing into the nitrator a nitronium ion solution of a composition that contains nitric acid, water and sulfuric acid, and lies within an area defined by three points A, B and C of a ternary phase diagram of nitric acid, sulfuric acid and water where -
• A. corresponds to about 82% of sulfuric acid and 18% nitric acid;
• B. corresponds to about 55% sulfuric acid and 45% water;
• and
• C. corresponds to 100% sulfuric acid;
• said composition being selected so that nitric acid is present below about 3% and is substantially fully dissociated to nitronium ion and the sulfuric acid strength is sufficiently high to permit a temperature at the inlet of the nitrator of from about 97.degree. to 120.degree. C.;
• (b) allowing the nitratable aromatic compound to commingle with the nitronium ion solution so as to provide a fine emulsion of said aromatic compound within the nitronium ion solution with the aromatic compound being evenly distributed in the nitronium ion solution;
• (c) causing the nitronium ion solution containing said nitratable aromatic compound to react at a temperature at the inlet of the nitrator of from about 97.degree. to 120.degree. C. in a nitrator containing mixing elements able to achieve and to maintain mixing of the contents of the nitrator to nitrate the nitratable compound to provide an aromatic nitro compound containing only low levels of impurities.