Abstract: Processes for obtaining aromatic hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon mixture a1. Mixture a1 is extractively distilled with extractive solvent a2 producing mixture bl comprising solvent a2, aromatic hydrocarbons and high boilers, and nonaromatic hydrocarbon mixture b2. Mixture b1 is distilled to aromatic hydrocarbon c1 and solvent comprising high boilers c2. Substream dl is removed from c2 and c2 is recycled to extractive distillation. Substream d1 is extracted with water producing aqueous phase e1 and organic phase e2. Aqueous phase e1 is distilled and purified solvent a2 is recovered and recycled into extractive distillation of mixture b1. Substream e2? is removed from organic phase e2 and recycled into extractive distillation of mixture b1. The amount of organic phase e2? is such that when d1 comprising solvent, high boilers, water and circulated stream e2? is dispersed, aqueous extract phase e1, forms a disperse phase and organic phase e2 a continuous phase.

Abstract: Compounds having the formulae and general formulae: wherein each R1, R2, R3 and R4 are the same or different and may be hydrogen, an alkyl group, an aryl group, a halogen, a nitro group, an alkyl or aryl ester, and an alkyl or aryl ether; compounds having the general formula: wherein R is an alkyl, aryl or electron withdrawing group; mixtures thereof; can be used as additives for crude oil and hydrocarbons. These compounds may be used to scavenge mercaptans, sulfides, cyanides, and primary or secondary amines; either alone or in combination.

Abstract: Processes for obtaining aromatic hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon mixture comprising aromatic and nonaromatic hydrocarbons and high boilers comprising: (A) providing a hydrocarbon mixture a1 and an extractive solvent a2, (B) extractively distilling the mixture a1 with the extractive solvent to obtain a mixture b1 of extractive solvent, the aromatic hydrocarbons, and high boilers, (C) distilling the mixture b1 to one or more fractions c1 comprising aromatic hydrocarbons and the extractive solvent c2 comprising high boilers, (D) removing a substream d1 from the extractive solvent c2, (E) extracting the substream d1 of the extractive solvent with water to obtain an aqueous extract phase e1 essentially free of high boilers and an organic phase e2 comprising the high boilers, (F) distilling the aqueous extract phase e1 and recovering the extractive solvent a2. Step (E) is preceded by a distillation in which a fraction of very high-boiling hydrocarbons is removed from substream d1.

Abstract: In various embodiments, the present disclosure describes processes and systems for recovery of styrene from a styrene-rich feedstock. The processes and systems maintain performance of an extractive solvent used in the styrene recovery. In general, the processes include introducing a styrene-rich feedstock to an extractive distillation column, removing a styrene-rich stream from the extractive distillation column, introducing the styrene-rich stream to a solvent recovery column, removing a styrene-lean stream from the solvent recovery column, separating and treating a portion of the styrene-lean stream to form a treated extractive solvent and recycling the treated extractive solvent. In some embodiments, the treating process also includes steam stripping. Styrene-recovery systems including an extractive distillation column, a solvent recovery column, a solvent treatment apparatus having at least one equilibrium stage and a continuous circulation loop connecting these components are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a process for minimizing a solvent in a raffinate stream of an extractive distillation column. The process can include providing sufficient separation in the extractive distillation column between a reflux stream having an effective amount of water and a stream having an effective amount of solvent. Usually, the reflux stream has no more than about 2,000 ppm, by weight, solvent based on the weight of the reflux stream.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are presented for the removal of carbon monoxide from ethylene streams. The removal of carbon monoxide before selective hydrogenation protects the catalyst in the selective hydrogenation reactor. Carbon monoxide levels are controlled with the water gas shift process to convert the carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide, with the carbon dioxide removed in an acid gas removal process.

Abstract: Provided are gas processing facilities for the separation of components in a gas stream and methods of using the same. The facility includes one or more co-current contactors. Each contactor includes a mass transfer vessel having a mixing section. The mixing section receives a gas stream and a liquid contacting stream. The mixing section mixes theses two streams and releases a two-phase flow. Each contactor also includes a separator that receives the two-phase fluid stream from the mass transfer vessel in-line, and then separates a vapor phase from a liquid phase. The separator has a gas-phase outlet configured to release the vapor phase as a treated gas stream, and a liquid-phase outlet configured to release the liquid phase as a loaded treating solution. The contactors may be used to remove water or other contaminant from a natural gas stream or other gas stream.

Abstract: There is provided a method for separating cyclohexene comprising the steps of: (a) separating a mixed solution containing cyclohexene, cyclohexane, and benzene by distillation using N,N-dimethylacetamide as an extractant; and (b) feeding at least a portion of a first bottom liquid obtained by separating cyclohexene, cyclohexane, and benzene from the mixed solution in the step (a) to an extractant purification column, withdrawing an azeotrope of cyclohexyl acetate and N,N-dimethylacetamide from a top of the extractant purification column to an outside of a system, and recycling a second bottom liquid of the extractant purification column to the step (a).

Abstract: The invention concerns the control of solvent systems in processes and apparatus for the separation of aromatic hydrocarbons from non-aromatic hydrocarbons in liquid-liquid extraction, extractive distillation, and the combination thereof.

Abstract: A process and an apparatus for separating and recovering waste alkali from a cyclohexane oxidation solution are provided. A gradient combination of the gravity separation technique, the vortex separation technique and the coalescence separation technique is used to carry out fine separation of the waste alkali liquor from the cyclohexane oxidation solution. The purified cyclohexane oxidation solution is fed into a down-stream apparatus. Most of the waste alkali liquor thus separated is recycled, while the remaining is expelled. The expelled waste alkali liquor is incinerated in an incinerator, followed by recovering the molten species using a pneumatic pulverization process.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for analysis of fat-soluble components, in particular fat-soluble dyes, from biological materials, in particular foods and feeds, having facilitated extraction of the fat-soluble components from the biological materials with use of suitable dilution solutions and of the extractability using pertinent organic solvents or organic solvent mixtures and also an enrichment and separation method, with subsequent digital evaluation and documentation. It is proposed to treat the biological materials first with a dilution medium which makes the fat-soluble components more readily extractable from the complex biological matrix and subsequently with at least one organic solvent which extracts the components; the substances extracted into the organic supernatant are subsequently chromatographically enriched and separated and then visually assessed and/or measured.

Abstract: A process for converting gaseous alkanes to olefins, higher molecular weight hydrocarbons or mixtures thereof wherein a gaseous feed containing alkanes may be thermally or catalytically reacted with a dry bromine vapor to form alkyl bromides and hydrogen bromide. Poly-brominated alkanes present in the alkyl bromides may be further reacted with methane over a suitable catalyst to form mono-brominated species. The mixture of alkyl bromides and hydrogen bromide may then be reacted over a suitable catalyst at a temperature sufficient to form olefins, higher molecular weight hydrocarbons or mixtures thereof and hydrogen bromide. Various methods and reactions are disclosed to remove the hydrogen bromide from the higher molecular weight hydrocarbons, to generate bromine from the hydrogen bromide for use in the process, to store and subsequently release bromine for use in the process, and to selectively form mono-brominated alkanes in the bromination step.

Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be an extraction process. The extraction process can include extracting with a solvent degradable due to contact with oxygen, and automatically measuring the solvent to detect changes in the solvent color due to degradation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition for preventing or treating hyperlipidemia, fatty liver, diabetes and obesity comprising a sesquiterpene derivative as an active ingredient. The sesquiterpene derivatives of the present invention leads to decrease in body fat weight, visceral fat weight and total cholesterol levels, triglyceride of plasma and liver tissue, blood glucose and blood insulin levels in a fast state, finally exhibiting efficacies on prevention or treatment of hyperlipidemia, fatty liver, diabetes and obesity.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for removing metals, particularly mercury, from hydrocarbon streams by use of an ionic liquid, where in the metal-containing hydrocarbon stream is contacted with an ionic liquid to produce a product hydrocarbon stream having reduced mercury content.

Abstract: A method of producing a crude product from a hydrocarbon feed is provided. A hydrocarbon feed is contacted with a catalyst containing a Col. 6-10 metal or compound thereof to produce the crude product, where the catalyst has a pore size distribution with a median pore diameter ranging from 105 ? to 150 ?, with 60% of the total number of pores in the pore size distribution having a pore diameter within 60 ? of the median pore diameter, with at least 50% of its pore volume in pores having a pore diameter of at most 600 ?, and between 5% and 25% of its pore volume in pores having a pore diameter between 1000 ? and 5000 ?.

Abstract: In the co-production of propylene oxide and styrene monomer, there is produced a sodium-containing heavy residue stream previously suitable only as a low grade fuel. In accordance with the invention, the heavy residue stream is mixed with a hydrocarbon and an aqueous acid, and the resulting mixture is separated into an aqueous sodium salt-containing slurry phase and an organic phase reduced in sodium.

Abstract: A system and method for the use of super critical CO2 as a carrying or suspension agent for transport of extracted or processed hydrocarbons. The super critical state CO2 is then co-mingled with the extracted or processed hydrocarbons and transported in the co-mingled state to a delivery point. At the delivery point, the super critical state CO2 is allowed to return to its gaseous state allowing the separation of the hydrocarbons therefrom. The hydrocarbons may be processed and the gaseous CO2 returned to its super critical state for future transport, use in EOR, or geologically sequestered.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved method for recovering hydrocarbons trapped in hydrate formations.

Abstract: A dewatered ethanol residue regenerable and non-regenerable sorbent for the removal of acid gas from hydrocarbon production gas streams and the process for the removal of acid gas from hydrocarbon gas. The process includes the steps of obtaining residue from the distillation of ethanol; de-watering the residue; mixing the de-watered residue with an amine; and, contacting the hydrocarbon gas with the dewatered residue/amine mixture.

Abstract: Solvents and methods are provided for extracting a hydrocarbon fraction from a solid, semi-solid, liquid or viscous liquid hydrocarbon-containing material.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for producing purified oil from an organism, whether these organisms are wild type, selectively bred or genetically modified, and are suitable for the large scale production of an oil product. The organism may be an animal, a plant or a microorganism such as yeast, bacteria or algae. The organism is processed to create a biomass which can be extracted to remove the lipids contained within the biomass. The extraction produces a crude extract rich in lipids and containing residual contaminants. These contaminants are removed by contacting the crude extract with a composition that comprises a nanomaterial. Subsequently an oil product is recovered which is substantially free from residual contaminants, such as pigments.

Abstract: A process is presented for the removal of oxygen from a hydrocarbon stream. The oxygen can react and cause polymerization of the hydrocarbons when the hydrocarbon stream is heated. Controlling the removal of the oxygen from the hydrocarbon stream produces a hydrocarbon stream that is substantially free of oxygen and has a reduced activity for generating undesired compounds.

Abstract: A process for isolating a conjugated diene from a hydrocarbon mixture is disclosed. The process comprises distilling the hydrocarbon mixture in the presence of an extraction solvent comprising an N,N-dialkyl aliphatic amide and from 12 to 50 weight percent furfural to separate a distillate and a conjugated diene-rich extract; and recovering the conjugated diene from the extract.

Abstract: Process for removing oxygen-containing organic compounds from mixtures of hydrocarbon compounds, in which a liquid phase (1) containing hydrocarbons and oxygenates is charged to a first column (3), a light fraction is separated as top product (5) by distillation, and that a heavier C4+ fraction is removed from the bottom, the light fraction (5) and a gaseous mixture of hydrocarbons and oxygenates (2) is charged to a second column (7), and separated into a light and a heavy hydrocarbon fraction distillation, and an additional solvent (6) is supplied to the upper part of the second column (7), which dissolves the oxygenates and, the solvent and oxygenates being discharged as bottom product (9) and a hydrocarbon product (8), which is free from oxygenates leaves the top of the column (7). The solvent optionally is wholly or partly regenerated and recirculated to the extractive distillation column.

Abstract: A supercritical fluid polymer depolymerization machine is disclosed herein, which machine is capable of converting a wide range of biomass and/or waste plastic materials into a plurality of reaction products (liquid and gaseous) including fermentable sugars, hydrocarbons, and various aromatic substances that, in turn, are readily convertible into liquid transportation fuel known as “neodiesel.

Abstract: An ultra low k dielectric film, including a silicon film containing porosity deriving from a porogen, as formed from a precursor silane and a porogen, wherein the precursor silane has a water content below 10 ppm, based on total weight of the precursor silane, and/or the porogen has a water content below 10 ppm, based on total weight of the porogen. In one implementation, the precursor silane is diethoxymethylsilane, and the porogen is bicyclo[2.2.1]-hepta-2,5-diene having a trace water content below 10 ppm, based on total weight of said bicyclo[2.2.1]-hepta-2,5-diene. These super-dry reagents are unexpectedly polymerization-resistant during their delivery and deposition in the formation of ultra low k films, and are advantageously employed to produce ultra low k films of superior character.

Abstract: A method for the absorption of alkynes and diolefins from an ethylene or propylene containing stream with conversion to alkenes by catalytic hydrogenation in a solvent over a fixed bed comprising a supported catalyst.

Abstract: This invention presents a process of butadiene-1,3 extraction. The process consists of the procedure of 1st extractive fractionation, 2nd extractive fractionation, distillation and alkyne fractionation. This invention can improve the yield and capacity of butadiene extraction unit by adding an alkyne fractionator to the existing butadiene extraction unit and appropriately adjusting the process condition of 1st and 2nd extractive fractionators. This invention can decrease the energy and material consumption per unit of butadiene-1,3, which greatly improved the economic profit. The investment on various scales of butadiene extraction units for adding alkyne fractionator is almost same. Further more, the profit is in direct proportion with the scale of a plant and output is in several to some dozens of folds to investment. After the implementation of this invention, the discharge of vinyl acetylene offgas can be reduced by around 3400 tons per year, which mitigate the pollution on environment and save energy.

Abstract: Nitrogen-containing Lewis bases act as poisons for molecular sieve catalysts used in oligomerisation reactions. A lowering of their presence in the feed prior to the contacting thereof with the molecular sieve brings a significant extension of catalyst life. Excessive elimination of these poisons may be disadvantageous. Lowering the levels of these catalyst poisons to more manageable concentrations is therefore preferred.

Abstract: The invention concerns a capture tank for capturing a captive target compound from a gaseous and/or vaporous mixture comprising at least the captive target compound and one other material, or for capturing, concentrating or crystallising a target compound from a liquid mixture or solution comprising the target compound and at least one other material, the capture tank comprising an enclosure having a top region, a bottom region and at least one side defining the enclosure, the enclosure being at least partly open in its top region in order to communicate in use of the capture tank with the gaseous and/or vaporous mixture and for permitting ingress of a gaseous and/or vaporous mixture into the enclosure; the enclosure communicating in its bottom region with a reservoir for receiving the captured captive target compound; having means associated with its at least one side and/or its bottom region for permitting egress from the enclosure of the gaseous and/or vaporous mixture in at least partially captive target

Abstract: The present invention is related to a process oil using as a raw material a deasphalted oil obtained by deasphalting a vacuum residual oil of a crude oil and a manufacturing method of the process oil, the process oil having properties of: (a) a polycyclic aromatics (PCA) content of less than 3 mass %; (b) a viscosity (100° C.) of 40 to 70 mm2/s; (c) an aniline point of 85 to 100° C.; (d) a flash point of 250° C. or higher; (e) an aromatic hydrocarbon content of 40 to 55 mass %; and (f) a polar substance content of 10 to 15 mass %. The present invention is also related to a process oil and a manufacturing method of the process oil, the process oil obtained by mixing: an extract obtained by deasphalting and solvent-extracting a vacuum residual oil of a crude oil; and a lubricant base oil having a polycyclic aromatics (PCA) content of less than 3 mass %, and having properties of: (a) a polycyclic aromatics (PCA) content of less than 3 mass %; (i) a viscosity (100° C.

Abstract: A method for reducing halide concentration in a hydrocarbon product made by a hydrocarbon conversion process using an ionic liquid catalyst comprising a halogen-containing an acidic ionic liquid comprising: (i) separating at least a portion of the hydrocarbon product from the ionic liquid catalyst used in the hydrocarbon conversion process from the hydrocarbon product; (ii) contacting at least a portion of the separated hydrocarbon product with an ionic liquid catalyst having the same formula as the ionic liquid catalyst used in the hydrocarbon conversion process; (iii) separating at least a portion of the hydrocarbon product from the ionic liquid catalyst of step (ii); and (iv) recovering at least a portion of the separated hydrocarbon product of step (iii) having a halide concentration less than the halide concentration of the hydrocarbon product of step (i) is disclosed.

Abstract: A method for reducing halide concentration in a hydrocarbon product having an organic halide content which is made by a hydrocarbon conversion process using a halogen-containing acidic ionic liquid catalyst comprising contacting at least a portion of the hydrocarbon product with an aqueous caustic solution under conditions to reduce the halide concentration in the hydrocarbon product is disclosed.

Abstract: A method for separating a gas stream comprising methane and a contaminate gas comprises the steps of contacting the gas stream with water under temperature and pressure suitable for the formation of methane hydrates so as to form a water/hydrate slurry, separating the contaminate gas from the water/hydrate slurry, and recovering methane from the water/hydrate slurry so as to generate a water stream.

Abstract: Processes and systems are disclosed that relate to the removal of impurities and separation the light olefins from an MTO product vapor stream. Specifically, the processes and systems relate to recovery of light olefins during regeneration of an adsorber in an oxygenate removal unit. Processes and systems for recovering light olefins during regeneration of an adsorber in an oxygenate removal unit can include recycling residual effluent stream to an upstream operation unit upstream of the oxygenate removal unit. Processes and systems for recovering light olefins during regeneration of an adsorber in an oxygenate removal unit can also include recycling residual effluent gas produced by depressurizing residual effluent in the first adsorber, as well as preferably venting an effluent gas from the first adsorber to a compressor upstream of the oxygenate removal unit.

Abstract: This invention is to a process for separating condensed water and entrained solids from an olefin stream so that fouling of the separation equipment by the entrained solids is reduced or eliminated. The process involves injecting an antifouling agent into a water condensing or quench system in an amount to maintain a zeta potential of fouling liquid and a zeta potential of the surface of the quench system both in a positive range or both in a negative range.

Abstract: A method of producing a fuel composition from a bio-oil feedstock is provided, wherein the bio-oil feedstock is subjected to a step of oil extraction to produce a bio-oil and deoiled residue. At least a portion of the deoiled residue is gasified to produce a hydrogen-containing gas. The bio-oil is subjected to an upgrading process to ultimately produce a fuel composition. At least a part of the hydrogen-containing gas produced in the gasification of deoiled residue is used in the upgrading process of producing a fuel composition. The upgrading process, which can involve hydro-treating, hydroisomerization and at least one separation step, produces light hydrocarbons in addition to the product fuel composition. The light hydrocarbons can be used in the gasification operation, e.g., to reduce tar formation.

Abstract: A process for extracting natural gas liquids (NGLs) from natural gas that involves contacting natural gas from one source with crude, or heavy, oil from a different source under conditions that promote enrichment of the crude or heavy oil with NGLs from the natural gas. Apart from functioning as an absorbent fluid, the crude or heavy oil also functions as the carrier medium for the absorbed. NGLs. When practicing the process, unlike conventional methods, there is no need to regenerate the absorbent fluid, in this case the crude and heavy oil, for recycling.

Abstract: A method is described for processing an olefin-containing product stream (1) that contains, besides ethylene and propylene, longer-chain olefins and compounds of hydrocarbons with oxygen (oxygenates). Such a product stream (I) can occur in particular in olefin synthesis from methanol. The product stream is dewatered in successive process steps, optionally compressed in several steps and dried. Then it is subjected to fractionation. For removal of the undesired oxygenates it is proposed that the oxygenates be washed out of the gaseous product stream after the compression steps and before the drying step in a column (12) with methanol.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the extraction of plant ingredients, which comprises a) comminuting plant material b) adding a solvent to the comminuted plant material c) subjecting the mixture of comminuted plant material and solvent to an ultrahigh temperature treatment at 95-150° C. over a period of 5-300 seconds.

Abstract: Provided is a method of separating an aromatic compound from a mixture containing the aromatic compound and an aliphatic compound. The method includes separating an aromatic compound from a mixture containing the aromatic compound and an aliphatic compound, wherein the separating is performed using a liquid-liquid extracting method using an ionic liquid as an extracting solvent.

Abstract: This invention relates to processes for removing particles such as catalyst fines from hydrocarbon streams, such as a wax dried from a Fischer Tropsch reaction using centrifugation in combination with a treatment with an aqueous solution preferably containing an acid, or with an acid. According to an aspect of the invention, catalyst particles are removed from a wax derived from a Fischer Tropsch by pre-treating the hydrocarbon stream with an aqueous solution and forming a mixture comprising the hydrocarbon stream and 5-25% v/v organic acid solution; and introducing the mixture to a centrifuge and separating, from the mixture, a hydrocarbon stream, an aqueous solution and particles. The process may be a continuous and/or a batch process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the removal of oxygenates from a gaseous stream also comprising carbon dioxide, said process comprising: a) providing a first gaseous stream comprising one or more mono-olefin(s), at least 100 ppm (by weight) of one or more oxygenates and at least 0.1 wt % carbon dioxide, and b) treating the first gaseous stream to produce a second gaseous stream comprising one or more mono-olefin(s) and at least 0.1 wt % carbon dioxide with reduced oxygenate content, wherein said treating comprises contacting the first gaseous stream with a first aqueous stream and with a first liquid hydrocarbon stream, and c) subsequently treating the second gaseous stream to remove the carbon dioxide therein.

Abstract: An integrated, continuous process for transforming feedstock, e.g., reformate, which contains high levels of benzene into a low-benzene content feedstock that is suitable for gasoline blending initially removes benzene from the reformate by extractive distillation, then partially hydrogenating the high purity benzene into cyclohexane under mild conditions in a one-stage hydrogenation reactor, and thereafter recovering a cyclohexane product with high purity from the hydrogenation reactor effluent in a back-end purification step using extractive distillation. The initial or front-end separation step yields a low-benzene content reformate.

Abstract: A mixture and method of using such mixture is provided for purifying carbon nanotubes. A substituted imidazolium cation is utilized to suspend carbon nanotubes in a nonpolar liquid. A polar solvent immiscible with the nonpolar liquid is mixed in to remove soot from the suspension, allowing recovery of the nanotubes. The relative gentleness of the separation provides nanotubes that are undamaged and unoxidized. The components of the mixture are economically advantageous for this use and the method is simple compared to other nanotube purification methods.

Abstract: A process comprising receiving a hydrocarbon feed stream comprising carbon dioxide, separating the hydrocarbon feed stream into a light hydrocarbon stream and a heavy hydrocarbon stream, separating the light hydrocarbon stream into a carbon dioxide-rich stream and a carbon dioxide-lean stream, and feeding the carbon dioxide-lean stream into a hydrocarbon sweetening process, thereby increasing the processing capacity of the hydrocarbon sweetening process compared to the processing capacity of the hydrocarbon sweetening process when fed the hydrocarbon feed stream.

Abstract: Method of removing dibenzofulvene and/or a dibenzofulvene amine adduct from a reaction mixture obtained by reacting an amino acid compound protected with an Fmoc group with an amine for deprotection, include stirring and partitioning the reaction mixture in a hydrocarbon solvent and a polar organic solvent, and removing a resulting hydrocarbon solvent layer in which the dibenzofulvene and/or the dibenzofulvene amine adduct is dissolved. The hydrocarbon solvent may have a carbon number of at least 5; the polar organic solvent may be free from organic amide solvents; and the polar organic solvent may immiscible with the hydrocarbon solvent.

Abstract: An enhanced ether production process from an olefinic cut containing at least one iso-olefin and from an alcohol comprises a stage of removal of the acetonitrile present in the hydrocarbon feed by liquid-liquid extraction, the extraction solvent being a non-aqueous ionic liquid of general formula Q+A?, wherein Q+ is an ammonium, phosphonium and/or sulfonium cation, and A? an anion likely to form a liquid salt with said cation. Advantageously, the method according to the invention generally allows the amount of water at the etherification reactor inlet to be divided by at least two and thus the purity of the ether produced to be improved.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for removing carbon dioxide and optionally hydrogen sulphide and/or COS from a gas stream containing these compounds by washing the gas with an aqueous washing solution containing water, sulfolane and a secondary or tertiary amine derived from ethanolamine. More particularly the invention relates to the process described above, the process being carried out in the presence of a primary or secondary amine compound in an amount between 0.5 and 15 wt. % based on water, sulfolane and amine. The invention further relates to an absorbent liquid to be used in the above process.