| abstract |
The present invention relates to a continuous process for the production of nitrobenzene by nitration of benzene with nitric acid or mixtures of nitric acid and sulfuric acid to give a crude nitrobenzene, washing of the crude nitrobenzene by means of at least one of each of an acid, alkaline and neutral washing, there being obtained a pre-purified nitrobenzene which, as well as containing nitrobenzene, at least contains also low boilers, optionally middle boilers as well as high boilers and salts, wherein the pre-purified nitrobenzene is purified further by separating off low boilers in a distillation apparatus by evaporation of the low boilers, and separation of nitrobenzene from the resulting further purified nitrobenzene in a distillation apparatus by partial evaporation of nitrobenzene, wherein pure nitrobenzene is removed from the distillation apparatus in gaseous form and is subsequently condensed, and wherein the non-evaporated portion of the further purified nitrobenzene is fed back into the washing at any desired point. |