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, wherein before and/or after step a) heteroatom containing organic compounds, optional aromatic hydrocarbons and optional other contaminants are removed from said liquid stream and/or from a raffinate stream resulting from step a), respectively, by contacting the latter stream(s) with a sorption agent. Further, the invention relates to a process for the recovery of aliphatic hydrocarbons from plastics comprising the above-mentioned process; and to a process for steam cracking a hydrocarbon feed comprising aliphatic hydrocarbons as recovered in one of the above-mentioned processes.

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 invention relates to a process for the preparation of ethylene glycol, comprising: a) converting a stream comprising ethylene oxide in the presence of a catalyst and carbon dioxide in two or more reactors to a stream comprising ethylene carbonate; and b) converting ethylene carbonate from the stream comprising ethylene carbonate obtained in step a) in the presence of a catalyst in one or more reactors to a stream comprising ethylene glycol and a stream comprising carbon dioxide, wherein the inlet stream or inlet streams to the last reactor of the two or more reactors used in step a) is or are not heated; and wherein an outlet stream comprising ethylene carbonate from the last reactor of the two or more reactors used in step a) is sent, without recycling a portion thereof to the last reactor used in step a), to the first reactor of the one or more reactors wherein step b) is carried out.

Abstract: A process for recovering an ethylene oxide (EO) enriched product stream from fat absorbent (FA) comprising water, EO, and acetaldehyde. The process comprises passing a feed of FA from a loopgas EO absorber to a multi-stage countercurrent distillation zone, the feed of FA having a concentration of EO in the range of from about 1 to about 15 wt % upon entering the distillation zone; and obtaining from the distillation zone an acetaldehyde enriched stream, a lean absorbent (LA) stream, a vapor stream enriched in light ends, a glycol enriched bottoms stream and an EO enriched product stream. Suitable apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: A process for recovering an ethylene oxide (EO) enriched product stream from fat absorbent (FA) comprising water, EO, and acetaldehyde. The process comprises passing a feed of FA from a loopgas EO absorber to a multi-stage countercurrent distillation zone, the feed of FA having a concentration of EO in the range of from about 1 to about 15 wt % upon entering the distillation zone; and obtaining from the distillation zone an acetaldehyde enriched stream, a lean absorbent (LA) stream, a vapour stream enriched in light ends, a glycol enriched bottoms stream and an EO enriched product stream. Suitable apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of ethylene oxide, comprising the steps of: producing ethylene resulting in a stream comprising ethylene and ethane; separating the stream comprising ethylene and ethane into a stream comprising ethylene and ethane in which stream the amount of ethylene is greater than the amount of ethane and a stream comprising ethane and ethylene in which stream the amount of ethane is greater than the amount of ethylene; producing ethylene oxide by subjecting ethylene and ethane from the stream comprising ethylene and ethane, in which stream the amount of ethylene is greater than the amount of ethane, to oxidation conditions resulting in a stream comprising ethylene oxide, unconverted ethylene and ethane; and recovering ethylene oxide from the stream comprising ethylene oxide, unconverted ethylene and ethane.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of ethylene oxide, comprising the steps of: producing ethylene resulting in a stream comprising ethylene and ethane; separating the stream comprising ethylene and ethane into a stream comprising ethylene and ethane in which stream the amount of ethylene is greater than the amount of ethane and a stream comprising ethane and ethylene in which stream the amount of ethane is greater than the amount of ethylene; producing ethylene oxide by subjecting ethylene and ethane from the stream comprising ethylene and ethane, in which stream the amount of ethylene is greater than the amount of ethane, to oxidation conditions resulting in a stream comprising ethylene oxide, unconverted ethylene and ethane; and recovering ethylene oxide from the stream comprising ethylene oxide, unconverted ethylene and ethane