nitrator
A nitrator is a chemical reaction vessel used to perform nitration, the introduction of nitro groups into an organic substrate. In standard processes, a nitrating mixture of concentrated nitric acid and sulfuric acid is circulated with the substrate to produce nitro compounds. Nitrators can operate as batch reactors or as continuous units in which feed streams are introduced and products are withdrawn at steady state.
Design and operation are influenced by the highly corrosive, exothermic nature of nitration. Nitrators are typically
Applications include the production of nitroaromatic compounds used as intermediates in dyes, agrochemicals, and pharmaceuticals, as
Safety and environmental considerations are central to nitrator design and operation. The nitric–sulfuric acid mixture is
See also: nitration, nitro compounds, nitric acid, sulfuric acid.