A method for making trinitrotoluene is described, and which includes the
steps of providing a source of aqueous nitric acid having a concentration
of less than about 95% by weight; mixing a surfactant with the source of
aqueous nitric acid so as to dehydrate the aqueous nitric acid to produce
a source of nitronium ions; providing a supercritical carbon dioxide
environment; providing a source of an organic material to be nitrated to
the supercritical carbon dioxide environment; and controllably mixing the
source or nitronium ions with the supercritical carbon dioxide
environment to nitrate the organic material and produce trinitrotoluene.