Separation of sulfolane from conjunct polymeric byproducts

摘要

The present invention provides a method for separating sulfolane from a mixture containing conjunct polymers, sulfolane, and hydrofluoric acid comprising the sequential steps of: (a) removing HF from said mixture to provide an intermediate stream containing less than about 30 weight percent HF; (b) contacting said intermediate stream with water; (c) contacting said intermediate stream with an aliphatic hydrocarbon co-solvent having from about 3 to about 20 carbon atoms concurrently with said water-contacting step (b); (d) recovering an extract stream enriched in sulfolane and hydrofluoric acid; and (e) recovering a raffinate stream enriched in conjunct polymers.