METHOD FOR SEPARATING PARA-XYLENE BY PREPROCESSING USING SELECTIVE HYDROGENATION AND ACTIVATED EARTH

摘要

A method for separating para-xylene from a feedstock to be processed containing a mixture of xylenes, wherein at least a part of a feedstock containing a mixture of xylenes is circulated through a so-called enrichment area (14) for enriching a first fraction (15) with para-xylene and delivering a second, para-xylene-depleted fraction (18), said second fraction is circulated through an isomerisation area (19), and the isomerate recovered (20) is recirculated to the enrichment area. At least one portion selected from the group which consists of the feedstock to be processed, the isomerate and a mixture thereof is circulated through at least one selective hydrogenation area (3) followed by at least one earth processing area (8), the excess hydrogen is separated in at least one separation area (5) before or after said earth processing, and an effluent is recovered and fed into the enrichment area (14).