Aromatic extraction process using mixed polyalkylene glycols/glycol ether solvents

摘要

This invention relates to an improved more energy efficient process for the separation of aromatic and non-aromatic hydrocarbons from a mixed carbon feed which comprises the following steps: (a) contacting said feed in an extraction zone with an extraction solvent to provide an aromatic-rich solvent phase and a raffinate phase; (b) cooling said aromatic-rich solvent and raffinate phases; (c) introducing said cooled aromatic-rich solvent phase to a separation zone containing aromatic hydrocarbons and a solvent-rich phase containing mixed extraction solvent and water; (d) introducing said cooled raffinate phase to a separation zone in the presence of water as based on the total weight of water and the raffinate phase to provide a raffinate phase containing non-aromatic hydrocarbons and a solvent/water phase; (e) adjusting the water present in the solvent-rich phase of step (c) and the solvent/water phase of step (d); (f) recycling at least or portion the phases in step (e) to step (a); (g) separately contacting the raffinate of step (d) and the extract of step (c) with water to form two water phases and a raffinate product and an extract product; (h) combining the water phases of step (g); (i) recycling at least a portion of the combined water phase of step (h) to step (d).