Abstract: A method of extracting bitumen from bituminous material. In some embodiments, the method may include loading a bitumen material in a column, followed by feeding a first quantity of first solvent into the column. The method may also include collecting the bitumen-enriched solvent exiting the column. A quantity of the bitumen-enriched solvent may then be fed into the column. In some embodiments, the method may include simultaneously loading bitumen material and a first solvent in a column, followed by feeding additional first solvent into the column. The method may also include collecting bitumen-enriched solvent exiting the column, and feeding a quantity of the bitumen-enriched solvent into the column.

Abstract: An improved solvent regeneration system for extractive distillation and liquid-liquid extraction processes capable of effectively removing heavy hydrocarbons and polymeric materials that otherwise develop in a closed solvent loop. The improved process employs a light hydrocarbon displacement agent, which is at least partially soluble in the solvent to squeeze the heavy hydrocarbons and polymeric materials out of the solvent, with virtually no additional energy requirement. It has been demonstrated that the light non-aromatic hydrocarbons in the raffinate stream generated from the extractive distillation or the liquid-liquid extractive process for aromatic hydrocarbons recovery can displace not only the heavy non-aromatic hydrocarbons but also the heavy aromatic hydrocarbons from the extractive solvent, especially when the aromatic hydrocarbons in the solvent are in the C10+ molecular weight range.

Abstract: Method and device for manufacturing at least one low olefin from an oxygenate-containing first reaction mixture (11) through conversion by a catalyst (20) to an olefin and paraffin-containing second reaction mixture (21) where the second reaction mixture (21) is flowed through a separation system (300), in which one at least one low olefin-containing first product stream (31) and at least one paraffin-enriched fraction (321) is extracted and where the remaining product stream (322) is at least partially recirculated to the catalyst (20).

Abstract: Extractive distillation processes whereby water-soluble extractive distillation (ED) solvents are regenerated and recovered employ improved operations of the extractive distillation column (EDC) so that polar hydrocarbons are recovered and purified from mixtures containing polar and less polar hydrocarbons and measurable amounts of hydrocarbons that are heavier than intended feedstock and/or polymers that are generated in the ED process. The improved process can effectively remove and recover the heavy hydrocarbons and/or remove polymer contaminants from the solvent in a closed solvent circulating loop through mild operating conditions with no additional process energy being expended. With the improved process, the overhead reflux of the EDC may be eliminated to further reduce energy consumption and to enhance the loading and performance within the upper portion of the EDC, especially when two liquid phases exists therein.

Abstract: A process for recovering polar hydrocarbons from non-polar hydrocarbons, such as aromatics from non-aromatics, naphthenes from paraffins and isoparaffins, or olefins from paraffins and isoparaffins, in feed mixtures containing at least a measurable amount of heavier hydrocarbons. This improved extractive distillation (ED) process recovers aromatic hydrocarbons including benzene, toluene, and xylenes from the C6-C8 petroleum streams containing a measurable amount of C9+ hydrocarbons. The ED process also recovers benzene and toluene from the C6-C7 petroleum streams containing a measurable amount of C8+ hydrocarbons. The ED solvent utilized to recover and purify the aromatic hydrocarbons from the petroleum stream with a heavier than intended feedstock of hydrocarbons is also regenerated and recovered.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for separating olefins and paraffins from oxygenates in a liquid hydrocarbon stream containing a high proportion of olefins, paraffins and oxygenates (mainly alcohols). Typically, the hydrocarbon stream is obtained from a Fischer-Tropsch process. The organic counter-solvent has a boiling point which is less than the boiling point of the most volatile alcohol in the hydrocarbon stream. A raffinate from the liquid-liquid extractor is passed to a distillation column. A bottoms product from the distillation column comprises olefins and paraffins, and the overhead product comprising solvents is recycled. An extract from the liquid-liquid extractor is sent to a stripping column, where a bottoms product containing pure alcohol is obtained. The overhead product containing counter-solvent is recycled.

Abstract: A process for upgrading hydrocarbonaceous oil containing heteroatom-containing compounds where the hydrocarbonaceous oil is contacted with a solvent system that is a mixture of a major portion of a polar solvent having a dipole moment greater than about 1 debye and a minor portion of water to selectively separate the constituents of the carbonaceous oil into a heteroatom-depleted raffinate fraction and heteroatom-enriched extract fraction. The polar solvent and the water-in-solvent system are formulated at a ratio where the water is an antisolvent in an amount to inhibit solubility of heteroatom-containing compounds and the polar solvent in the raffinate, and to inhibit solubility of non-heteroatom-containing compounds in the extract. The ratio of the hydrocarbonaceous oil to the solvent system is such that a coefficient of separation is at least 50%.

Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid phase adsorption process for removing and concentrating heteroatom compounds in hydrocarbons (HCH), comprising the steps of adsorption, copurging and regeneration. In the adsorption step, a liquid hydrocarbon stream is fed to an adsorber, which adsorbs HCH and returns adsorption effluent. In the copurging step, HCH, which are extracted from the previous regeneration, are applied to the adsorber, displacing the copurging effluent. In the regeneration step, a polar solvent is flowed through the adsorber, purging HCH. Most of the HCH are then set aside for use in the next copuring step, while a small amount of the HCH are taken out from the process as HCH product. The present invention is economically advantageous in effectively removing HCH from hydrocarbon streams and increasing the concentration of HCH within an HCH product.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a method of removing acetaldehyde, CO2 and/or water from an ethylene and/or propylene containing stream. In this invention, acetaldehyde and C4+ olefins are substantially removed from the ethylene and/or propylene containing stream. The stream is then acid gas treated. The ethylene and/or propylene streams which are separated and recovered according to this invention can be further processed, for example, to make polymers such as polyethylene and polypropylene.

Abstract: A C4-hydrocarbon mixture essentially containing 1,3-butadiene, butenes, butanes and other C4-hydrocarbons is separated into at least 4 fractions, a) the fraction (a) essentially comprising 1,3-butadiene, b) the fraction (b) essentially comprising butenes, c) the fraction (c) essentially comprising butanes and d) one or more fractions (d) essentially comprising 1,3-butadiene and the other C4-hydrocarbons, by extractive distillation by means of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone or an aqueous solution of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NMP).

Abstract: A process to improve the performance of furfural for aromatics extraction from gas oils and lube distillates by the addition of ethers and/or aldehydes, preferably having a dielectric constant less than about 40 @ 25.degree. C.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for reducing corrosion in a system in which aromatic hydrocarbons are separated from a mixture with aliphatic hydrocarbons. The aromatic hydrocarbons are extracted from the mixture using an extracting solvent. The aromatic hydrocarbons are stripped from the extracting solvent with steam and the steam is condensed to form water which is separated from the aromatic hydrocarbons. The separated water is passed through a basic anion exchange column and is then heated to produce the steam.

Abstract: Processes are disclosed for the separation of aromatic hydrocarbons from feedstreams containing mixtures of aromatic and non-aromatic hydrocarbons using extractive distillation with an aromatic selective solvent in order to separate the aromatic hydrocarbons from the non-aromatic hydrocarbons. A rich solvent stream comprising the aromatic hydrocarbons and solvent is withdrawn from the extractive distillation column and passed to a steam stripping column to provide a regenerated lean solvent stream, a side-cut stream comprising the aromatic hydrocarbons and a stripper overhead stream comprising non-aromatic hydrocarbons which are passed as a reflux stream to the extractive distillation column. Various solvents are disclosed and an especially preferred solvent is sulfolane.

Abstract: In a combined solvent extraction/steam distillation process for the separation of aromatic hydrocarbons from a mixture of aromatic and non-aromatic hydrocarbons, there are three major thermal and material cycles: the solvent cycle, the hydrocarbon cycle, and the water cycle. The process is improved by redistributing the energy use between the three cycles to minimize the internal recycle within the process and to reduce the overall energy requirements. One means of the redistribution includes cooling of a lean solvent stream with liquid in a recovery or stripping column. Cooling of the lean solvent reduces flashing within an extract column and the resulting reflux of hydrocarbons to the extract column.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for hydrocarbon fractionation and extraction making it possible to obtain a petrol with an improved octane number and a kerosene with an improved smoke point.According to the invention a charge with a final boiling point of at least 220.degree. C. is fractionated into three fractions:a light petrol containing less than 10% aromatics and boiling points at 25.degree. to 80.degree. C.,a medium petrol (80.degree. C. and at the most 150.degree. C.), whose end point is determined by a nitrogen content below 50 ppm,a heavy petrol with an end point equal to or below 220.degree. C.,be a selective liquid solvent aromatics are then extracted from the heavy petrol producing a refined product which is poured into the kerosene pool or diesel fuel,the solvent is regenerated by reextraction using light petrol so as to produce an aromatics-enriched petrol fraction with an improved octane number.

Abstract: A phenolic polymerization inhibitor is recovered from a styrene distillation residue containing the phenolic polymerization inhibitor by a method which comprises extracting the inhibitor from the styrene distillation residue with an oxygen-containing organic solvent having not more than 6 carbon atoms, adding an aromatic hydrocarbon solvent to the oxygen-containing organic solvent phase consequently obtained, and subjecting the resultant mixture to distillation thereby separating the mixture into a solution of the phenolic polymerization inhibitor in the aromatic hydrocarbon solvent and the oxygen-containing organic solvent. The recovered solution is put to use as a polymerization inhibitor either in the unmodified form or in a form separated from the aromatic hydrocarbon solvent.

Abstract: 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 ra

Abstract: The separation of aromatic and nonaromatic containing hydrocarbon feeds is provided by use of an extraction-separation process using extraction solvents.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for recovering preferably water-insoluble organic substances such as nitrobenzene, dichlorobenzene and/or trichlorobenzene by absorption from spent air vapors which contain these substances. The process comprises passing the spent air vapors through a high-boiling organic liquid, preferably polyethylene glycol, subsequently adding water to the saturated absorbent and separating the recovered organic substance from the absorbent/water mixture after phase separation.

Abstract: An improvement to a continuous solvent extraction-steam distillation process for the recovery of aromatic hydrocarbons in the range of C.sub.6 -C.sub.16 from a feed stream containing such aromatics and aliphatic hydrocarbons in the range of C.sub.5 -C.sub.16 which resides in utilizing two heat exchangers wherein the heat of condensation of the overhead stripper vapor and vapor sidedraw products is recovered and utilized to vaporize the stripping water, thereby producing stripping steam which in turn is compressed up to the pressure present at the bottom of the stripper and resulting in the reduction of the heat load of the process.

Abstract: Hydrazine is added to glycol solvents utilized for aromatic extraction so that corrosion is minimized while the extractive efficiency of the solvent is maintained.

Abstract: Oxygen compounds are removed, e.g., by solvent extraction, from a shale oil prior to its hydrogenation. As a result, the amount of hydrogen consumed during subsequent hydrogenation to achieve a given level of nitrogen for the shale oil is less than that which would occur if the oxygen compounds were not removed from the shale oil. Removal of the nitrogen is necessary to avoid adverse effects on subsequent shale oil processing steps such as catalytic cracking.

Abstract: An improvement to a continuous solvent extraction-steam-distillation process for the recovery of aromatic hydrocarbons in the range of C.sub.6 -C.sub.16 from a feed stream containing such aromatics and aliphatic hydrocarbons in the range of C.sub.5 -C.sub.16 which resides in using two extractive distillation zones thermally linked to recover heat and solvent, thereby resulting in a heat savings.

Abstract: Petroleum fractions may be separated into aromatic rich and paraffinic-rich hydrocarbon streams by the use of methanol/water mixtures having at least 10% water by volume. The paraffinic-rich stream is recovered as raffinate and the aromatic-rich as extract. After the extraction step additional water is added to the extract and raffinate streams where it acts as an anti-solvent to effect separation of the hydrocarbon from the solvent. The water and methanol are then separated for example by flash distillation or by using super critical CO.sub.2 as an extraction solvent.

Abstract: Substantial energy savings are realized in an aromatic extraction process wherein a vapor sidestream is removed from the solvent stripper, compressed and used to provide the heat necesary for distillation in the solvent stripper.

Abstract: A process for the separation of aromatic hydrocarbon compounds from mixtures thereof with non-aromatic hydrocarbon compounds wherein the mixtures are contacted with an ethoxylated alkane polyol solvent having a number average molecular weight range from about 250 to about 1100 to form an extract containing the aromatics and separating the extract from the non-aromatic compounds.

Abstract: Petroleum fractions may be separated into aromatic-rich and paraffinic-rich hydrocarbon streams by the use of methanol/water mixtures having more than 20% water. The paraffinic-rich stream is recovered as raffinate. The aromatic-rich stream passes out of the extraction zone and is recovered by lowering the temperature to induce a phase separation.

Abstract: A process for the liquid/liquid extraction of aromatic hydrocarbons from organic solvent mixtures containing aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons by the use of certain ethers and esters as extractants is disclosed.