Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the recovery of aliphatic hydrocarbons from a liquid hydrocarbon feedstock stream, which comprises aliphatic hydrocarbons and additionally comprises aromatic hydrocarbons and/or polar components, said process comprising the steps of: feeding the liquid hydrocarbon feedstock stream to a first column; feeding a first solvent stream which comprises an organic solvent to the first column at a position which is higher than the position at which the liquid hydrocarbon feedstock stream is fed; contacting at least a portion of the liquid hydrocarbon feedstock stream with at least a portion of the first solvent stream; and recovering at least a portion of the aliphatic hydrocarbons by liquid-liquid extraction of aromatic hydrocarbons and/or polar components with organic solvent, resulting in a stream comprising recovered aliphatic hydrocarbons and optionally organic solvent and a bottom stream from the first column comprising organic solvent and aromatic hydrocarbons and/or polar

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the recovery of aliphatic hydrocarbons from a liquid stream comprising aliphatic hydrocarbons, heteroatom containing organic compounds and optionally aromatic hydrocarbons, involving (i) contacting said liquid stream with a washing solvent thereby removing heteroatom containing organic compounds; a) liquid-liquid extraction of the washed stream with an extraction solvent thereby recovering part of the aliphatic hydrocarbons; b1) mixing the extract stream, comprising extraction solvent, aliphatic hydrocarbons, heteroatom containing organic compounds and optionally aromatic hydrocarbons, with a demixing solvent to recover additional aliphatic hydrocarbons; b2) mixing the remaining stream with additional demixing solvent to remove heteroatom containing organic compounds and optional aromatic hydrocarbons; and c) separation of the remaining stream into a demixing solvent stream and an extraction solvent stream.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the recovery of aliphatic hydrocarbons from a liquid stream comprising aliphatic hydrocarbons, heteroatom containing organic compounds and optionally aromatic hydrocarbons, involving a) liquid-liquid extraction of said liquid stream with an extraction solvent thereby recovering part of the aliphatic hydrocarbons; b1) mixing the extract stream, comprising extraction solvent, aliphatic hydrocarbons, heteroatom containing organic compounds and optionally aromatic hydrocarbons, with a demixing solvent to recover additional aliphatic hydrocarbons; b2) mixing the remaining stream with additional demixing solvent to remove heteroatom containing organic compounds and optional aromatic hydrocarbons; and c) separation of the remaining stream into a demixing solvent stream and an extraction solvent stream.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the recovery of aliphatic hydrocarbons from a liquid stream comprising aliphatic hydrocarbons, heteroatom containing organic compounds and optionally aromatic hydrocarbons, involving (i) contacting said liquid stream with a washing solvent thereby removing heteroatom containing organic compounds; a) liquid-liquid extraction of the washed stream with an extraction solvent; b) mixing the extract stream, comprising extraction solvent, heteroatom containing organic com-pounds and optionally aromatic hydrocarbons, with a demixing solvent to remove additional heteroatom containing organic compounds and optional aromatic hydrocarbons; and c) separation of the remaining stream into a demixing solvent stream and an extraction vent stream.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing an organic carbonate, comprising contacting carbon dioxide with an alcohol in the presence of water and a catalyst in a reaction zone resulting in the production of the organic carbonate, wherein the organic carbonate is continuously removed from the reaction zone.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the removal of contaminants from contaminated crude oil in a vessel. An organic solvent stream is provided to the vessel containing crude oil. After mixing, an organic solvent bottom phase is allowed to form. The bottom phase comprises at least a portion of the organic solvent stream and at least a portion of the contaminants. The bottom phase is removed from the vessel, while the remaining crude oil is retained in the vessel. An aqueous stream is provided to the vessel and mixed with the remaining crude oil, allowing an aqueous bottom phase to form. The aqueous bottom phase is removed from the vessel, while the remaining crude oil is retained in the vessel.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process wherein a dialkyl carbonate stream containing an ether alkanol impurity is subjected to extractive distillation using an extraction solvent to obtain a top stream comprising dialkyl carbonate and a bottom stream comprising the ether alkanol impurity and the extraction solvent, wherein the extraction solvent is an organic compound containing one or more ester moieties and/or ether moieties which organic compound does not contain a hydroxyl group. Further, the invention relates to a process for making a diaryl carbonate, comprising reacting an aryl alcohol with a stream containing a dialkyl carbonate from which stream an ether alkanol impurity has been removed in accordance with the above-described process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing an organic carbonate, comprising contacting carbon dioxide with an alcohol in the presence of water and a catalyst in a reaction zone resulting in the production of the organic carbonate, wherein the organic carbonate is continuously removed from the reaction zone.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the separation of a first C3 to C7 diol from a first mixture of C3 to C7 diols. The first mixture is provided to a first distillation column. An extractant is fed to the first distillation column above the first mixture. A stream comprising the first diol and the extractant is removed as a bottoms stream from the first distillation column and subjected to distillation in a second distillation column. A high purity first diol stream is removed from the top section of the second distillation column, while a used extractant stream is removed from the bottom section. The extractant is a C3 to C6 sugar alcohol or mixture thereof. The first diol is a close-boiler to and/or forms an azeotrope with one or more of the other C3 to C7 diols present in the first mixture.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the recovery of aliphatic hydrocarbons from a liquid hydrocarbon feedstock stream, which comprises aliphatic hydrocarbons and additionally comprises aromatic hydrocarbons and/or polar components, said process comprising the steps of: feeding the liquid hydrocarbon feedstock stream to a first column; feeding a first solvent stream which comprises an organic solvent to the first column at a position which is higher than the position at which the liquid hydrocarbon feedstock stream is fed; contacting at least a portion of the liquid hydrocarbon feedstock stream with at least a portion of the first solvent stream; and recovering at least a portion of the aliphatic hydrocarbons by liquid-liquid extraction of aromatic hydrocarbons and/or polar components with organic solvent, resulting in a stream comprising recovered aliphatic hydrocarbons and optionally organic solvent and a bottom stream from the first column comprising organic solvent and aromatic hydrocarbons and/or polar

Abstract: The invention provides a process for separating saturated and unsaturated carboxylic acids is described. The process includes providing a stream comprising same carbon number saturated and unsaturated carboxylic acids; contacting said stream with an extractive solvent in an extractive distillation unit, to produce a first stream comprising extractive solvent and unsaturated carboxylic acids and a second stream comprising saturated carboxylic acids, and feeding said first stream to a solvent recovery unit, to produce a third stream comprising unsaturated carboxylic acids and a fourth stream comprising extractive solvent. In some embodiments, the extractive solvent has a boiling point at atmospheric pressure that is at least 5° C. higher than the boiling point of the unsaturated carboxylic acid.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process wherein a dialkyl carbonate stream containing an ether alkanol impurity is subjected to extractive distillation using an extraction solvent to obtain a top stream comprising dialkyl carbonate and a bottom stream comprising the extraction solvent and the ether alkanol impurity, wherein the extraction solvent is an organic compound containing one or more hydroxyl groups and one or more ester moieties and/or ether moieties. Further, the invention relates to a process for making a diaryl carbonate, comprising reacting an aryl alcohol with a stream containing a dialkyl carbonate from which stream an ether alkanol impurity has been removed in accordance with the above-described process.

Abstract: A method for separating monoethylene glycol (MEG) from one or more oxygenates. The method includes providing a stream comprising MEG and one or more oxygenates to a distillation column, providing a water feed stream to a bottom of the distillation column, and removing a recovery stream comprising MEG from the distillation column. The distillation column is operated at higher temperatures than the thermal stability of MEG and the one or more oxygenates.

Abstract: A method for separating monoethylene glycol (MEG) from one or more oxygenates. The method includes providing a stream comprising MEG and one or more oxygenates to a distillation column, providing a water feed stream to a bottom of the distillation column, and removing a recovery stream comprising MEG from the distillation column. The distillation column is operated at higher temperatures than the thermal stability of MEG and the one or more oxygenates.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the separation of a first diol, selected from the group consisting of C3 to C7 diols from a first mixture comprising two or more C3 to C7 diols, said process comprising the steps of: (i) providing said first mixture comprising two or more C3 to C7 diols as a feed to a first distillation column; (ii) providing a feed comprising an extractant to the first distillation column above the first mixture; (iii) operating the first distillation column at a temperature in the range of from 50 to 250° C. and a pressure in the range of from 0.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for treating a waste water stream. Said waste water comprises hydrocarbons and oxygenates such as alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, and has a COD of up to 5 wt %. The invention relates to a distillation column for treating a waste water stream and a system for treating a waste water stream.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for treating a waste water stream. Said waste water comprises hydrocarbons and oxygenates such as alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, and has a COD of up to 5 wt %. The invention relates to a distillation column for treating a waste water stream and a system for treating a waste water stream.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the production of a high purity first diol, selected from the group consisting of C2 to C7 diols from a product stream comprising two or more C2 to C7 diols, said process comprising the steps of: (i) subjecting the product stream to distillation in a first distillation column to provide a bottoms stream comprising high boiling by-products and a top stream comprising a mixture comprising the two or more C2 to C7 diols; (ii) providing said mixture comprising the two or more C2 to C7 diols as a feed to a second distillation column; (iii) providing a feed comprising an extractant to the second distillation column above the mixture comprising the two or more C2 to C7 diols; (iv) operating the second distillation column at a temperature in the range of from 50 to 250° C. and a pressure in the range of from 0.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the separation of MEG and 1,2-BDO from a first mixture comprising MEG and 1,2-BDO in a weight ratio of at least 10:1 (MEG:1,2-BDO), said process comprising the steps of; (i) providing the first mixture as a feed to a distillation column at a point in the range of from 20 to 80% of the column height; (ii) operating the distillation at a temperature in the range of from 120 to 190° C. and at a pressure in the range of from 5 kPa to atmospheric pressure; (iii) removing an MEG stream from the distillation column at a point below the point at which the first mixture is fed; (iv) removing an overheads stream comprising an azeotrope of MEG and 1,2-BDO.

Abstract: A method of recovering an alcohol from an aqueous stream comprising: providing an aqueous stream comprising water and an alcohol; providing a solvent stream; combining the aqueous stream and the solvent stream; and recovering at least a portion of the alcohol by liquid-liquid extraction.