(83t) Nitration of Toluene in a Microreactor Using Mixed Acid

Highly exothermic reactions such as aromatic nitration can be carried out in a highly efficient manner in microreactors due to the high heat and mass transfer rates. In this study, nitration of toluene was conducted in a microreactor immersed in a constant temperature bath using mixed acid as nitrating agent. The effects of residence time, reaction temperature, and mixed acid composition on the reactor performance were studied and optimum operating conditions were determined. Studies were also made in a 25ml PARR batch reactor to compare the performance in the microreactor with that of the conventional batch reactor. The results indicate that reaction rate for mixed acid nitration in microreactor is an order of magnitude higher than that in the batch reactor. Also, the amount of by-products formed in the microreactor was much lower than that of the batch reactor. From the experimental data obtained in the microreactor, the kinetic rate expression for the reaction was developed.