Catalytic reduction of aromatic polynitro compounds

Claim 1

IN A PROCESS FOR THE CATALYTIC HYDROGEN REDUCTION OF AROMATIC POLYNITRO COMPOUNDS TO FORM THE CORRESPONDING POLYAMINE COMPOUNDS, WHEREIN A POLYNITRO COMPOUND AND HYDROGEN ARE INTRODUCED INTO A HYDROGENATION ZONE, AND THEREIN REACTED IN THE PRESENCE OF A HYDROGENATION CATALYST SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF NICKEL AND THE PLATINUM GROUP OF METALS, TO THEREBY FORM AN AMINO COMPOUND CORRESPONDING TO THE POLYNITRO COMPOUND INTRODUCED; THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES IN TRODUCING IN THE SAID HYDROGENATION ZONE A SOLUTION, LIQUID AT A TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE MAINTAINED IN SUCH ZONE, OF SAID POLYNITRO COMPOUND IN AN INERT SOLVENT THEREFOR, SAID SOLVENT BEING ALSO A SOLVENT FOR THE POLYAMINE AND WATER FORMED IN THE HYDROGENATION, THE CONCENTRATION OF POLYNITRO COMPOUND IN SAID SOLVENT BEING SUCH THAT THERE IS MAINTAINED IN SAID HYDROGENATION ZONE THROUGHOUT THE HYDROGENATION, A SINGLE-PHASE LIQUID SOLUTION OF SAID SOLVENT, POLYNITRO COMPOUND, CORRESPONDING POLYAMINE AND WATER, REMOVING FROM SAID HYDROGENATION ZONE A SOLUTION IN SAID SOLVENT CONTAINING THE POLYAMINE AND WATER FORMED THEREIN, AND RECOVERING THE POLYAMINE FROM SAID SOLUTION.