NOVEL ENERGY EFFICIENT AND THROUGHPUT ENHANCING EXTRACTIVE PROCESS FOR AROMATICS RECOVERY

摘要

An energy efficient, high throughput process for aromatics recovery can be readily implemented by revamping existing sulfolane solvent extraction facilities, or constructing new ones, so as to incorporate unique process operations involving liquid- liquid extraction and extractive distillation. Current industrial sulfolane solvent based liquid-liquid extraction processes employ a liquid-liquid extraction column, an extractive stripping column, a solvent recovery column, a raffinate wash column, and a solvent regenerator. The improved process for aromatic hydrocarbon recovery from a mixture of aromatic and non-aromatic hydrocarbons requires transformation of the extractive stripping column into a modified extractive distillation column. The revamping incorporates the unique advantages of liquid-liquid extraction and extractive distillation into one process to significantly reduce energy consumption and increase process throughput. The revamp entails essentially only piping changes and minor equipment adjustments of the original liquid-liquid extraction facility, and is therefore, reversible.