For the swap consider making iodoethane. There is a writeup posted by russian bees using KI Post 301629 (https://www.thevespiary.org/talk/index.php?topic=7607.msg30162900#msg30162900)
(Antoncho: "Two tried-and-true ways to make MeI !", Chemistry Discourse) it will work for EtI too.
Btw, why not make the nitroethane from ethanol, sulfuric and NaNO2 and avoid that extra step? UTFSE: Post 233762 (missing)
(Antoncho: "Kitchen nitroalkane success!", Chemistry Discourse)
If you still prefer the swap, maybee try PTC...
Bee sure to report back!
https://www.thevespiary.org/rhodium/Rhodium/chemistry/nitroalkane.html (https://www.thevespiary.org/rhodium/Rhodium/chemistry/nitroalkane.html)
Preparation of Ethyl Bromide
1500 ml of concentrated H2SO4 was added to 900 ml H2O, then cooled. Then 1.5 l of absolute ethanol was slowly dripped in, carefully to avoid temperature rise. Cool the mixture and add 1100-1200 g KBr (or equimolar amount of NaBr). Heat the mixture on a sand-bath at the lowest temperature at which the ethylbromide distills over, collect it in water. Wash the ethyl bromide again with water and dry it with CaCl2. Yield 90-96%.
What's the ref for this prep? Using KI instead of KBr would probably give as good results for EtI, since it is almost identical to the synth posted by Antoncho, don't you think so? Great method.
The missing reference is one of the two following ones, but I don't know which one:
I. The preparation of ethyl bromide
Alfred Holt, J. Chem. Soc., Trans., 109, 1-2 (1916)
DOI:10.1039/CT9160900001 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/CT9160900001)
CLXIV. The preparation of ethyl bromide
Frank Edwin Weston, J. Chem. Soc., Trans., 107, 1489-1490 (1915)
DOI:10.1039/CT9150701489 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/CT9150701489)
I also happened to find this reference in connection to the two above, maybe it is of interest as well:
CCCLIX. The effect of intensive drying on the rate of distillation and on the vapour pressure of ethyl bromide
John William Smith, Journal of the Chemical Society 2573-2583 (1931)
DOI:10.1039/JR9310002573 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/JR9310002573)
Here are the two articles requested by Captain_America:
CLXIV. The preparation of ethyl bromide
Frank Edwin Weston
Journal of the Chemical Society, Transactions, 107, 1489-1490 (1915)
(https://www.thevespiary.org/rhodium/Rhodium/hive/hiveboard/picproxie_imgs/pdf.gif)
I. The preparation of ethyl bromide
Alfred Holt
Journal of the Chemical Society, Transactions, 109, 1-2 (1916)
(https://www.thevespiary.org/rhodium/Rhodium/hive/hiveboard/picproxie_imgs/pdf.gif)
ALKYL AND ALKYLENE BROMIDES:
http://www.orgsyn.org/orgsyn/orgsyn/prepcontent.asp?print=1&showprint=1&prep=cv1p0025 (http://www.orgsyn.org/orgsyn/orgsyn/prepcontent.asp?print=1&showprint=1&prep=cv1p0025)