Abstract:
A MULTI-STAGE COUNTERCURRENT PROCESS FOR THE SOLVENT EXTRACTION OF AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS FOR A MIXED FEED STOCK IS DISCLOSED WHEREIN THE FEED IS CONTACTED WITH SOLVENT AND EXTRACTED IN A FIRST STAGE, EXTRACT FROM THE FIRST STAGE IS PURIFIED IN A SECOND STAGE BY COUNTERCURRENT CONTACT WITH AN OVERHEAD FRACTION FROM A THIRD STAGE WHEREIN THE SECOND STAGE EXTRACT IS DISTILLED, AND RECTIFICATION IS EFFECTED IN A FOURTH STAGE WHEREIN WATER IS REFLUXED AND A PART OF THE WATER, OBTAINED AS REFLUX FREE OF SOLVENT, IS VAPORIZED AND RECYCLED TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS RECTIFICATION STAGE TO RECOVER THE SENSIBLE HEAT OF LEAN SOLVENT.
Abstract:
A process is disclosed whereby aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene, toluene and xylene are separated with high selectivity from mixtures in which they are contained through extraction and/or extractive distillation with the aid of a solvent mixture including morpholine and another solvent such as an oxygen containing derivative of morpholine and water, e.g. morpholinewater, morpholine-N-formyl morpholine and morpholine-N-formyl morpholine-water, in three main steps: (1) concentration of nonaromatic hydrocarbons to produce a stream free from aromatics; (2) purification of aromatics dissolved in rich solvent; and (3) recovery of the aromatics from the rich solvent.
Abstract:
A multi-stage countercurrent process for the solvent extraction of aromatic hydrocarbons from a mixed feed stock is disclosed wherein the feed is contacted with a keto- or aldo-morpholine and extracted in a first stage, extract from the first stage is purified in a second stage by countercurrent contact with an overhead fraction from a third stage wherein the second stage extract is distilled, and rectification is effected in a fourth stage wherein water is refluxed and a part of the water, obtained as reflux free of solvent, is vaporized and recycled to the bottom of this rectification stage to recover the sensible heat of lean solvent.