Vapor phase nitration of propane; effect of gamma radiation and temperature

Propane was nitrated with nitric acid in a flow reactor that was subjected to 195,000 r/hr of gamma radration. Operating variables investigated included temperatures from 370--460 deg C, mole ratios of propane to nitric acid from 4: 1 to 16: 1, and residence times of 1.1 to 1.9 sec. Irradiation of the reacting mixture had little effect on the nitric acid conversions except when oxygen was added to the reactants; an approximately 10-15% relative increase in conversion was noted. A similar increase was noted when liquid propane was irradiated prior to reaction. The effect of temperature on the distribution of nitroparaffin products was evaluated for several series of irradiated and unirradiated runs. (auth)