Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for separating solids from liquids are disclosed. A vessel includes an inlet, a carrier liquid outlet, a product outlet, a purifying section, and a heater. The inlet directs a slurry into the purifying section. The slurry comprises particles of a solid and a carrier liquid. The purifying section preferentially drives the particles of the solid towards a heating zone of the purifying section versus the carrier liquid. This displaces a first portion of the carrier liquid away from the heating zone of the purifying section. The heater heats the slurry. The carrier liquid outlet drives a majority of the carrier liquid out of the vessel. The product outlet is adjacent to the heating zone of the purifying section.

Abstract: Highly active, recoverable and recyclable transition metal-based metathesis catalysts and their organometallic complexes including dendrimeric complexes are disclosed, including a Ru complex bearing a 1,3-dimesityl-4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene and styrenyl ether ligand. The heterocyclic ligand significantly enhances the catalytic activity, and the styrenyl ether allows for the easy recovery of the Ru complex. Derivatized catalysts capable of being immobilized on substrate surfaces are also disclosed. The present catalysts can be used to catalyze ring-closing metathesis (RCM), ring-opening (ROM) and cross metatheses (CM) reactions, and promote the efficient formation of various trisubstituted olefins at ambient temperature in high yield.

Abstract: In a natural gas dehydration system and method, a first stream of natural gas and water vapor having a first pressure and a first temperature is mixed with a second stream of natural gas and water vapor having a second, lower pressure than the first pressure and a second temperature to form a third stream of natural gas and water vapor. The pressure and temperature of the third stream is then reduced and at least part of the water is separated from the third stream to form a fourth stream of natural gas and water vapor having a lower water vapor content than the third stream. In response to a temperature of the third stream being above a predetermined temperature, causing the fourth stream to extract heat from the first stream prior mixing the first and second streams. Then, the fourth stream is flowed to a distribution pipeline or a storage system.

Abstract: A filter column apparatus comprising a filtration zone and a reslurry zone. These zones are separated by a barrier wall or are in substantial cooperation with each other. Also disclosed is a process for separating at least a portion of at least one substantially solid component from a solid-liquid stream comprising the substantially solid component and at least one substantially liquid component. Also disclosed is a process for forming a substantially solids containing packed bed. Also disclosed is a process for purifying paraxylene in a filtration zone.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the separation of a contaminant or mixture of contaminants from a CH4-comprising gaseous feed stream, comprising the subsequent steps of: a) passing a CH4-comprising gaseous feed stream comprising the contaminant or the mixture of contaminants into and through a cold porous body having a temperature below the sublimation temperature of the contaminant or the mixture of contaminants and contacting the CH4-comprising gaseous feed stream at elevated pressure with the surface of the cold porous body to obtain a porous body comprising solid contaminant or mixture of contaminants and a contaminant-depleted product gas; and b) reducing the pressure to obtain fluid contaminant or mixture of contaminants and a cold porous body. c) removing the fluid contaminant or mixture of contaminants, wherein the contaminant is selected from CO2, hydrogen sulphide, mercaptans, siloxanes and carbonyl sulphide, or a mixture thereof.

Abstract: A process for separating water from pyrolysis gasoline obtained from a steam cracking step uses a coalescer for the water separation. And a device comprises a coalescer for water separation from pyrolysis gasoline.

Abstract: A process of producing PX comprising providing a C8+ feedstock, the C8+ feedstock has C8 hydrocarbons and C9+ hydrocarbons, to a crystallization unit under crystallization conditions to produce a PX enriched stream having a PX concentration of at least 99.5 wt % based on the weight of the PX enriched stream, wherein the C8+ feedstock has a PX concentration of at least 70 wt % based on total weight of xylenes in the C8+ feedstock, which the C8+ feedstock having a C9+ hydrocarbons concentration in a range from 1 wppm to 10 wt % based on the total weight of the C8+ feedstock.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the separation of a contaminant or mixture of contaminants from a CH4-comprising gaseous feed stream, comprising the subsequent steps of: a) passing a CH4-comprising gaseous feed stream comprising the contaminant or the mixture of contaminants into and through a cold porous body having a temperature below the sublimation temperature of the contaminant or the mixture of contaminants and contacting the CH4-comprising gaseous feed stream at elevated pressure with the surface of the cold porous body to obtain a porous body comprising solid contaminant or mixture of contaminants and a contaminant-depleted product gas; and b) reducing the pressure to obtain fluid contaminant or mixture of contaminants and a cold porous body. c) removing the fluid contaminant or mixture of contaminants, wherein the contaminant is selected from CO2, hydrogen sulphide, mercaptans, siloxanes and carbonyl sulphide, or a mixture thereof.

Abstract: Processes are provided for producing triphenylene by combining at least dodecahydrotriphenylene, a dehydrogenation catalyst such as palladium on carbon, and an aliphatic solvent having a boiling point greater than 180° C. to form a reaction mixture, heating the reaction mixture to at least about 180° C. but lower than the boiling point of the aliphatic solvent, maintaining the temperature of the reaction mixture at 180° C. but lower than the boiling point of the aliphatic solvent, and passing a purge fluid comprising an inert fluid through the reaction mixture, for a period of time adequate for production of triphenylene.

Abstract: Processes for separating a solid from a solids-liquids slurry under conditions that prevent ingress of molecular oxygen are advantageous where the presence of molecular oxygen would otherwise reduce efficiencies, contribute to limited product yields, and potentially compromise safe operation of the process or downstream unit operations. Among the various embodiments disclosed herein, is a process utilizing filter columns as solid-liquid separators in combination with crystallization and reslurry unit operations to recover a product component from an initial feed mixture of miscible components. Embodiments of the disclosed processes may include the separation and purification of a product component using a crystallizer in series with a filter column followed by a chemical reactor, using a reslurry drum in series with a filter column, and using a combination of crystallizers and/or reslurry drums in series with at least one filter column.

Abstract: The proposed process uses crystallization technology to purify paraxylene simultaneously of large concentrations of C8 aromatics and also small concentrations of oxygenated species.

Abstract: A process of producing PX comprising providing a C8+ feedstock, the C8+ feedstock has C8 hydrocarbons and C9+ hydrocarbons, to a crystallization unit under crystallization conditions to produce a PX enriched stream having a PX concentration of at least 99.5 wt % based on the weight of the PX enriched stream, wherein the C8+ feedstock has a PX concentration of at least 70 wt % based on total weight of xylenes in the C8+ feedstock, which the C8+ feedstock having a C9+ hydrocarbons concentration in a range from 1 wppm to 10 wt % based on the total weight of the C8+ feedstock.

Abstract: A method for separating methane from at least one hydrocarbon with two or more carbon atoms in a substantially gaseous fluid, containing more than 3 ppm of water, in particular a natural gas coming from a natural gas field or from a natural gas pipeline, or a refinery gas or another gas available at an extraction pressure set between 15 and 300 bar, and an apparatus. The method provides prearranging an expansion device having at least one first expansion equipment, selected from the group comprised of: a radial expansion device and a static expansion device, in which a first expansion takes place with a cooling effect down to a temperature that is higher than the solid formation temperature that may be formed starting from water and/or hydrocarbons present in said gas, and further having at least one second expansion equipment which is arranged downstream of the first expansion equipment.

Abstract: Provided is a process for crystallization separating p-xylene, comprising: a) feeding a mixed xylenes stream comprising greater than or equal to 60% by weight, of p-xylene, such as 60% to 98% by weight of p-xylene, to a crystallization unit to perform cooling crystallization, to obtain a slurry comprising p-xylene crystals; and b) feeding the slurry to a filtration and purification unit, to obtain a mother liquor, washings, and p-xylene, wherein the filtration and purification unit uses a simulated moving bed or a combination of multiple moving beds.

Abstract: A process of producing PX comprising providing a C8+ feedstock, the C8+ feedstock has C8 hydrocarbons and C9+ hydrocarbons, to a crystallization unit under crystallization conditions to produce a PX enriched stream having a PX concentration of at least 99.5 wt % based on the weight of the PX enriched stream, wherein the C8+ feedstock has a PX concentration of at least 70 wt % based on total weight of xylenes in the C8+ feedstock, which the C8+ feedstock having a C9+ hydrocarbons concentration in a range from 1 wppm to 10 wt % based on the total weight of the C8+ feedstock.

Abstract: The proposed process uses crystallization technology to purify paraxylene simultaneously of large concentrations of C8 aromatics and also small concentrations of oxygenated species.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for separating aromatic compounds using a simulated moving bed adsorptive chromatography and a crystallization process, comprising a sulfolan process that is a non-aromatic compound removing process, a benzene/toluene fractionation process, an aromatic compound fractionation process, a selective toluene disproportionation process, a transalkylation process, a crystallization process for para-xylene separation, a simulated moving bed para-xylene separation process and a xylene isomerization process, wherein the method is characterized by further comprising a simulated moving bed xylene mixture pre-treatment process and an additional xylene isomerization process. The separation method of aromatic compounds according to the present invention can make significant improvement in para-xylene and benzene production in the overall process, as compared to the conventional aromatic compound separation process.

Abstract: A process for separating solids from liquids in a filtration zone defined by a higher concentration zone and a lower concentration zone separated by a filter. The process includes the steps of directing a slurry feed comprising a liquid and solids into the higher concentration zone, directing a displacement fluid to the higher concentration zone and passing at least a portion of the liquid through a filter to the filtrate zone, producing a filtrate.

Abstract: A method including carrying out adiabatic cooling and evaporation operation of a coolant in a crystallizer (20) for a mixture solution of a target organic compound containing the coolant; taking out crystal slurry produced by the operation from the crystallizer (20); pressurizing evaporated vapor to a pressure higher than the operation pressure in the crystallizer (20) by a compressor (30) and then introducing the vapor to an absorption condenser (10); cooling for condensation the mixture solution of organic compound and the evaporated vapor that has been pressurized while allowing them to contact each other in the absorption condenser (10); introducing the crystal slurry taken out of the crystallizer (20) to a purification means (70) for purification of the crystal; and introducing a clarified liquid in the purification means (70) to at least one of the crystallizer (20) and the absorption condenser (10).

Abstract: A process and apparatus for separating at least part of a gaseous product from a feed stream which comprises contaminants. The process comprises: 1) providing the feed stream; 2) cooling the feed stream to a temperature at which a slurry stream is formed which comprises solid contaminant, liquid phase contaminant and the gaseous product; 3) introducing the slurry stream as obtained in step 2) via a plurality of tangentially directed inlet means into an upper part of a separation device, thereby creating a swirl of the slurry stream which allows at least part of the gaseous product to flow upwardly and solid contaminant and liquid phase contaminant to flow downwardly; 4) removing at least part of the gaseous product from the upper part of the device; and 5) removing a stream comprising liquid phase contaminant from a lower part of the device.

Abstract: A process of making p-xylcne comprising processing a mixed feedstock containing benzene, toluene, C8 aromatic hydrocarbons, C9 and higher aromatic hydrocarbons, and non-aromatic hydrocarbons through a series of operations and various units, including a C9 and higher aromatic hydrocarbon dealkylation unit, a toluene selective disproportionate unit, an adsorption separation unit, an isomerization unit, and a crystallization separation unit.

Abstract: A process of producing PX comprising providing a C8+ feedstock, the C8+ feedstock has C8 hydrocarbons and C9+ hydrocarbons, to a crystallization unit under crystallization conditions to produce a PX enriched stream having a PX concentration of at least 99.5 wt % based on the weight of the PX enriched stream, wherein the C8+ feedstock has a PX concentration of at least 70 wt % based on total weight of xylenes in the C8+ feedstock, which the C8+ feedstock having a C9+ hydrocarbons concentration in a range from 1 wppm to 10 wt % based on the total weight of the C8+ feedstock.

Abstract: A process for the combined production of para-xylene and benzene comprises: separating a first feed, by adsorption in a simulated moving bed SMB, to produce an extract E rich in para-xylene and at least one raffinate R which is depleted in para-xylene; converting a secondary feed of toluene by selective disproportionation to produce benzene and xylenes; a) at the start of the cycle, producing a supplemental quantity of para-xylene in a crystallization unit supplied with the xylenes from the disproportionation; b) at the end of the cycle, when the adsorbant has aged: dividing the distilled extract E into a first fraction Ea and a complementary second fraction Eb; replacing the feed to the initial crystallization by the stream Ea; and recycling the xylenes from the disproportionation to the SMB. The invention enables para-xylene and benzene production to be maintained despite ageing of the SMB absorbent.

Abstract: A process for continuously removing a target product X in the form of fine crystals from a liquid phase P comprising the target product X and constituents other than the target product X by cooling suspension crystallization in the secondary chamber, into which the liquid phase P flows continuously, of an indirect heat exchanger with simultaneous continuous flow of a coolant through the primary chamber of the indirect heat exchanger and continuous withdrawal of a crystal suspension S having a degree of crystallization Y from the secondary chamber, in which the degree of crystallization Y is adjusted on the basis of a heat balance conducted continuously with the aid of a process computer.

Abstract: A process of producing PX comprising providing a C8+ feedstock, the C8+ feedstock has C8 hydrocarbons and C9+ hydrocarbons, to a crystallization unit under crystallization conditions to produce a PX enriched stream having a PX concentration of at least 99.5 wt % based on the weight of the PX enriched stream, wherein the C8+ feedstock has a PX concentration of at least 70 wt % based on total weight of xylenes in the C8+ feedstock, which the C8+ feedstock having a C9+ hydrocarbons concentration in a range from 1 wppm to 10 wt % based on the total weight of the C8+ feedstock.

Abstract: The invention concerns a process for producing high purity meta-xylene, comprising a step for separation by simulated moving bed adsorption starting from an aromatic C8 feed delivering a fraction which is rich in meta-xylene and a fraction which is depleted in meta-xylene, and a step for crystallization of the meta-xylene rich fraction. The purity of the meta-xylene produced is at least 99.5%.

Abstract: A filter column apparatus comprising a filtration zone and a reslurry zone. These zones are separated by a barrier wall or are in substantial cooperation with each other. Also disclosed is a process for separating at least a portion of at least one substantially solid component from a solid-liquid stream comprising the substantially solid component and at least one substantially liquid component. Also disclosed is a process for forming a substantially solids containing packed bed. Also disclosed is a process for purifying paraxylene in a filtration zone.

Abstract: Provided is a process for adsorptive separation of p-xylene from an aromatic hydrocarbon mixture comprising other isomers of xylene, and a device used therein. More specifically, the present invention provides a separation process employing simulated moving bed (SMB) adsorptive chromatography, characterized by subjecting the extracts eluted from a plurality of adsorption chambers arranged in parallel, to a crystallizer for additional separation, thereby improving productivity, and a device used therein.

Abstract: A method for separating and purifying 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene, is provided in which 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene of high purity is obtained from a mixture of dimethylnaphthalene isomers with a high yield, by means of a combined process of column melt crystallization and sweating operation.

Abstract: A process for purifying removal of crystals from their suspension in mother liquor by means of a washing column having forced transport in which the process chamber is encased by a metal wall which, on its side facing away from the process chamber, is heated at least along the length of the pure melt zone.

Abstract: A process for continuously removing a target product X in the form of fine crystals from a liquid phase P comprising the target product X and constituents other than the target product X by cooling suspension crystallization in the secondary chamber, into which the liquid phase P flows continuously, of an indirect heat exchanger with simultaneous continuous flow of a coolant through the primary chamber of the indirect heat exchanger and continuous withdrawal of a crystal suspension S having a degree of crystallization Y from the secondary chamber, in which the degree of crystallization Y is adjusted on the basis of a heat balance conducted continuously with the aid of a process computer.

Abstract: A process for operating a continuous removal of a target product X in the form of fine crystals of a liquid phase P comprising the target product X and constituents other than the target product X by cooling suspension crystallization in the secondary chamber of an indirect heat exchanger to which liquid phase P flows continuously with simultaneous continuous flow through the primary chamber of the indirect heat exchanger with a coolant, and continuous withdrawal of a crystal suspension S having a degree of crystallization Y from the secondary chamber in two operating states I and II, wherein the coolant temperature is lower, the mass flow of liquid phase P is greater and the molar proportion of the constituents other than the target product X in the liquid phase P in operating state II is greater than in operating state I.

Abstract: A method of producing a wax composition having a constrained carbon number distribution and/or a narrow melting range is described. Additionally, hydrocarbon waxes and hydrocarbon wax compositions having a constrained carbon number distribution and/or melting point are described.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separation of hydrocarbon oil and wax from a hydrocarbon waxy feedstock is disclosed. Said method comprises cooling the feedstock by a cooling agent so as to induce crystallization of hard wax crystals containing some quantity of oil.

Abstract: A process for recovering paraxylene from a substantially hydrocarbon feedstock. The recovery comprises cooling the hydrocarbon feedstock in at least one refrigerated crystallization stage that is indirectly refrigerated by evaporating at least a portion of a substantially liquid stream comprising ammonia. The crystallization stage may also be cooled by an ethylene refrigerant, which has been cooled by heat exchange with a substantially liquid stream comprising ammonia. The process further comprises a series of cooling substeps. This invention is also directed to an ammonia absorption refrigeration process powered by an enthalpy source from or near a paraxylene recovery unit.

Abstract: An industrially advantageous process for producing adamantane by which high-purity adamantane reduced in coloration is efficiently produced while minimizing the loss. The process, which is for producing adamantane by isomerizing trimethylenenorbornane, includes (A) a reaction step of isomerizing the starting material, (B) a concentration step of concentrating the adamantane contained in the resultant liquid reaction mixture, (C) a crystallization step of precipitating the concentrated adamantane, (D) a solid-liquid separation step of separating the adamantane crystals from the slurry resulting from the crystallization, (E) a washing step of washing the isolated adamantane crystals, and (F) a drying step of drying the adamantane crystals washed, characterized in that the mass ratio of the endo-trimethylenenorbornane to the adamantane each contained in the materials to be subjected to the crystallization step (C) (endo-trimethylenenorbornane/adamantane) is 0.25 or lower.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparation, separation and purification of high-purity 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene. The method according to the present invention comprises a step of subjecting a dimethylnaphthalene isomer mixture rich in 1,5-dimethylnaphthalene, high boiling point materials, unreacted 1,5-dimethyltetralin, and low boiling point materials, which are produced from a dehydrogenation reaction of 1,5-dimethyltetralin, to separation, using a distillation column; a step of subjecting the dimethylnaphthalene mixture separated by the distillation column to liquid state isomerization in the presence of an isomerization catalyst; a first crystallization step (melt crystallization process) of cooling the product of liquid state isomerization with a refrigerant without a solvent to form crystals; and a second crystallization step (solution crystallization process) of mixing the product of the first crystallization step with a solvent to form crystals.

Abstract: A method for separating and purifying 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene, is provided in which 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene of high purity is obtained from a mixture of dimethylnaphthalene isomers with a high yield, by means of a combined process of column melt crystallization and sweating operation.

Abstract: A method and a system for transporting a flow of fluid hydrocarbons containing wax and/or asphaltenes or any other precipitating solids through a treatment and transportation system including a pipeline are disclosed. The flow of fluid hydrocarbons is introduced into a reactor (4), where it is mixed with another fluid flow having a temperature below a crystallization temperature for the wax and/or asphaltenes or other solids and containing particles or crystals acting as nucleating and/or growth cores for the wax and/or asphaltenes or other solids, the mixing temperature providing precipitation of the wax and/or asphaltenes or other solids from the flow of fluid hydrocarbons, and the effluent flow of hydrocarbons and particles is conveyed from the reactor (4) to a pipeline (6) for transportation.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions comprising C26H30 hexamantane, referred to herein as peri-condensed hexamantane, fully condensed hexamantane, and cyclohexamantane. These enriched cyclohexamantane compositions comprise at least 5 percent by weight cyclohexamantane based upon the total weight of the composition.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing 2,6-DMN, in which even when a mixture containing DMN isomers which includes 5 wt % or more of 2,7-DMN is used, a highly pure 2,6-DMN can be obtained. The method for manufacturing the highly pure 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene of the present invention comprises performing cooling crystallization of a mixture containing dimethylnaphthalenes which includes 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene, performing solid-liquid separation to obtain a solid component, and washing the solid component using a solvent, wherein the solid-liquid separation performed after the cooling crystallization includes press filtration.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions comprising one or more pentamantanes. Specifically disclosed are compositions comprising 10 to 100 weight percent of one or more pentamantanes. Also disclosed are novel processes for the separation and isolation of pentamantane components into recoverable fractions from a feedstock containing at least a higher diamondoid component which contains one or more pentamantane components.

Abstract: A process for co-production of paraxylene, metaxylene and/or orthoxylene from a hydrocarbon feedstock (1) that comprises [1] a separation stage of the feedstock in a simulated moving bed in a chromatographic column (9) that contains a number of beds of an adsorbent, interconnected in a loop, is described, whereby said column comprises an injection (3) of the feedstock, a draw-off (10) of an extract that consists of paraxylene and desorbent, an intermediate fraction (11) (extract or raffinate) that contains ethylbenzene, and a raffinate (12) that contains a mixture of metaxylene and orthoxylene that is virtually free of ethylbenzene and paraxylene and [2] a crystallization stage (27) of the metaxylene and/or orthoxylene fraction. Upstream from the adsorption zone and/or upstream from the crystallization zone, it is possible to distill the entering mixture to produce an orthoxylene-enriched fraction at the bottom and a metaxylene-enriched fraction at the top.

Abstract: A process is described for co-producing metaxylene and paraxylene from a hydrocarbon feed comprising two separation steps. The first step of the process is a counter-current simulated moving bed system in a chromatographic column containing at least five zones, comprising injecting the feed and injecting a desorbent and delivering an extract, a raffinate and an intermediate raffinate either continuously or discontinuously. The extract is distilled to obtain a paraxylene with a purity of at least 99.7%. The raffinate, which is richer in metaxylene, is distilled to extract the desorbent and injected into a counter-current simulated moving bed continuously delivering an extract and a raffinate. One of these two streams is enriched in metaxylene. The most metaxylene-rich stream is distilled to obtain metaxylene with a purity of more than 99%.

Abstract: A coproduction process for ortho-xylene and para-xylene starting with a batch of hydrocarbons comprises a simulated counter-current fluidized bed system in a chromatographic column (6) containing at least five zones, comprising injection (1) of the batch and injection (2) of desorption agent and delivering an extract (3), a refined product (5), and an intermediate refined product (4). Refined product (5), richer in ortho-xylene than the intermediate refined product, is distilled (9) to extract desorption agent (15) and is injection, according to the second step of the process, into a simulated counter-current fluidized bed system (17) delivering an extract (18) and a refined product (19) continuously.

Abstract: A method and a system for transporting a flow of fluid hydrocarbons containing wax and/or asphaltenes or any other precipitating solids through a treatment and transportation system including a pipeline are disclosed. The flow of fluid hydrocarbons is introduced into a reactor (4), where it is mixed with another fluid flow having a temperature below a crystallization temperature for the wax and/or asphaltenes or other solids and containing particles or crystals acting as nucleating and/or growth cores for the wax and/or asphaltenes or other solids, the mixing temperature providing precipitation of the wax and/or asphaltenes or other solids from the flow of fluid hydrocarbons, and the effluent flow of hydrocarbons and particles is conveyed from the reactor (4) to a pipeline (6) for transportation.

Abstract: Process for the separation of 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene from mixtures containing it, comprising the following operations: crystallization by the addition of a solvent and cooling of the mixture to a temperature higher than the formation value of the first eutectic; removal of the mother liquor by repeated washings; dissolution of the solid obtained; crystallization by cooling; filtration.

Abstract: In a method for obtaining anthracene and carbazole and their sequential products from the anthracene oil resulting during coal tar distillation or its purification products, anthracene oil or the purification product crude anthracene is converted into a melt without adding solvent, the melt is cooled under the crystallization point of carbazole and anthracene, the crystal product obtained is separated from the liquid phase, and the crystal product is distilled to obtain pure anthracene and pure carbazole.

Abstract: A pressure swing adsorption process to separate para-xylene and ethylbenzene from C8 aromatics which uses a para-selective, non-acidic, medium pore molecular sieve of the MFI structure type and is operated isothermally in the vapor phase at elevated temperatures and pressures is integrated with crystallization to produce para-xylene product. A fixed bed of adsorbent is saturated with pX and EB, which are preferentially adsorbed, the feed is stopped, and lowering the partial pressure desorbs the pX and EB. The process effluent, which is rich in pX and EB, is crystallized to obtain para-xylene product.

Abstract: A method of demulsifying a water-in-oil emulsion comprising an oil phase comprising asphaltenes and an aqueous phase is disclosed. The method comprises contacting a carbon dioxide containing fluid with the emulsion such that the carbon dioxide containing fluid enters the oil phase of the emulsion. The asphaltenes precipitate out of the emulsion and the emulsion destabilizes.