Sulfolane purification method

摘要

The present invention provides a method for separating conjunct polymers and sulfolane from a mixture containing conjunct polymers, sulfolane, and hydrofluoric acid comprising the sequential steps of: (a) separating hydrofluoric acid from said mixture to provide an intermediate stream containing less than about 30 percent hydrofluoric acid by weight; (b) gravitationally separating said intermediate stream into a sulfolane-enriched stream and a conjunct polymer-enriched stream; (c) contacting said sulfolane-enriched stream with a polar extraction solvent to provide an extract stream enriched in sulfolane and a raffinate stream enriched in conjunct polymers; (d) stripping the polar extraction solvent from said sulfolane-enriched extract stream; and (e) recovering sulfolane from said enriched stream of step (d).