Preparation
TNT is produced in a three-step process. First, toluene is nitrated with a mixture of sulfuric acid and nitric acid to produce mono- nitrotoluene or MNT. The MNT is separated and then renitrated to dinitrotoluene or DNT. In the final step, the DNT is nitrated to trinitrotoluene or TNT using an anhydrous mixture of nitric acid and oleum.