Extractive distillation of hydrocarbon mixtures

Patent · Tue Jul 16 04:00:00 EDT 1991

OSTI ID:5677770

Lee, F M; Brown, R E; Johnson, M M

This patent describes a process for separating at least one aromatic hydrocarbon containing 6-12 carbon atoms per molecule from at least one close-boiling alkane by extractive distillation of a feed consisting essentially of the at least one aromatic hydrocarbon and the at least one alkane in the presence of a solvent consisting essentially of N-methyl-2-thiopyrrolidone, optionally in combination with at least one cosolvent selected from the group consisting of glycol compounds, sulfolane compounds and N-({beta}-mercaptoalkyl)-2-pyrrolidone compounds; wherein the extractive distillation process produces an overhead distillate product which contains a smaller volume percentage of the at least one alkane than the feed, and a bottoms product which contains the solvent and a larger volume percentage of the at least one aromatic hydrocarbon and a smaller volume percentage of the at least one alkane than the feed; and wherein the at least one aromatic hydrocarbon is separated from the solvent and recovered from the bottoms product. This patent also describes a process for separating at least one cycloalkane containing 5-10 carbon atoms per molecule from at least one close-boiling alkane by extracting distillation of a feed consisting essentially of the at least one cycloalkane and the at least one alkane in the presence of a solvent consisting essentially of N-methyl-2-thiopyrrolidone, optionally in combination with at least one cosolvent selected from the group consisting of glycol compounds, sulfone compounds and N-({beta}-mercaptoalkyl)-2-pyrrolidone compounds.

• Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Co., Bartlesville, OK (United States)
• Patent Number(s): A; US 5032232
• Application Number: PPN: US 7-606690
• OSTI ID: 5677770
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020400* -- Petroleum-- Processing
020500 -- Petroleum-- Products & By-Products
023000 -- Petroleum-- Properties & Composition
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400105 -- Separation Procedures
ALKANES
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
DISPERSIONS
DISTILLATES
DISTILLATION
ENERGY SOURCES
EXTRACTION
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HYDROCARBONS
KINETICS
MIXTURES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM
PETROLEUM DISTILLATES
PETROLEUM FRACTIONS
PROCESSING
REACTION KINETICS
REFINING
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOLVENT EXTRACTION