High pressure nitration of toluene using nitrogen dioxide on zeolite catalysts

Nitration of toluene by nitrogen dioxide in the presence of zeolite catalysts was carried out in a high pressure reaction system. Different zeolites (viz. H-ZSM-5, H-mordenite, HY etc.) were used as catalysts. The effects of NO₂/toluene molar ratio and the total pressure on the formation of mono- and di-nitrotoluenes were also investigated. The N₂-sorption capacity, X-ray diffraction analysis and catalytic activity measurements of the regenerated HY catalyst revealed that the HY catalyst can be reused.