Kinetic and safety characterization of the nitration process of methyl benzoate in mixed acid

The nitration of methyl benzoate is studied from a chemical and a kinetic point of view. The reaction network through which the system could evolve following the loss of thermal control or the uncorrect feed of the reagents is completely characterized. The data collected during the present investigation indicate that runaway phenomena can occur during the nitration of the substrate due to the development of side reactions. Isothermal experiments are thus carried out to estimate the unknown kinetic parameters through the adoption of a mathematical model able to predict the system behaviour upon variation of process parameters. The dependence of the acidity function H on the operating conditions is assessed. The proposed model and the estimated parameters are validated through the use of the results collected in a set of experimental runs performed at significantly different operating conditions from those adopted to identify them. © 2012 American Chemical Society.