Abstract: Dual desorbent composition and dual temperature techniques as improvements for simulated moving-bed adsorption-desorption separation processes whereby certain hydrocarbons can be separated from mixtures containing various unsaturated and/or saturated aliphatic and/or aromatic hydrocarbons. The dual desorbent composition technique is implemented by employing a strong desorbent stream in the desorption zone and a weaker desorbent stream in the rectification zone of a simulated moving-bed countercurrent adsorption-separation system; while the dual temperature concept envisions the temperature differentiation between the desorption zone and the remaining zones of said separation system in order to both minimize the desorbent requirement and enhance the purity of the separation products. A combined use of both the dual desorbent composition and the dual temperature techniques can further improve the performance of said simulated moving-bed system.

Abstract: Dual desorbent composition and/or dual temperature technique, when employed in a simulated moving-bed adsorption-desorption separation system embedded with a solid sorbent comprising certain sieves, e.g., Rb-exchanged Type X crystalline aluminosilicate sieve, which preferentially adsorb ethylbenzene, entails an improved separation and recovery of ethylbenzene from C.sub.8 aromatic feedstreams as sorbate product. Further, certain specific sieves, which preferentially adsorb xylene isomers, i.e., orthoxylene, metaxylene and paraxylene, may also be employed, in said simulated process utilizing the dual desorbent composition and/or the dual temperature concept, in order to effect the improved separation and recovery of ethylbenzene from its C.sub.8 aromatic isomers as raffinate product.

Abstract: Dual desorbent composition and dual temperature techniques are provided as improvements for a simulated moving bed adsorption-desorption separation process which help reduce total desorbent requirements. The invention describes a process for continuously separating, in a liquid phase, components of a C.sub.8 aromatic feed mixture by contacting said feed mixture with a solid sorbent and utilizing a simulated countercurrent flow system wherein a liquid stream flows through serially and circularly interconnected desorption, rectification and sorption zones. One of the embodiments envisioned in the present improved process is directed to the employment of two desorbent streams of different strengths. This embodiment minimizes total amount of desorbent requirements by using a strong desorbent stream in the desorption zone and a suitable weaker desorbent stream in the rectification zone to achieve the desired separation.

Abstract: Simulated moving bed processes for the separation of C.sub.8 aromatic isomers using molecular sieve adsorbents are improved by the use of meta-diisopropylbenzene as the eluting agent. The invention describes a process for continuously separating, in a liquid phase, components of the feed mixture by contacting said feed mixture with a solid sorbent and utilizing a simulated countercurrent flow system wherein a liquid stream flows through serially and circularly interconnected desorption, rectification and sorption zones.