| abstract |
Dinitrotoluene, which is produced by mixed acid nitration of toluene, is purified in a way which produces a product suitable for conversion to toluene diamine and a less environmentally objectionable by-product stream. The process involves contacting a crude dinitrotoluene stream containing by-product nitrophenolic materials with an alkaline material and monitoring the pH such that dinitroorthocresol by-product is maintained in the organic phase while the trinitroorthocresol by-products are converted to water-soluble materials and removed with an aqueous phase. |