Comparative study of solvents for the extraction of aromatics from naphtha

Syed Halim Hamid; Mohammed Ashraf Ali

doi:10.1080/00908319608908748

Comparative study of solvents for the extraction of aromatics from naphtha

Syed Halim Hamid^*
, Mohammed Ashraf Ali

^*Corresponding author for this work

King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals

Research output: Contribution to specialist publication › Article

55 Scopus citations

Abstract

An experimental investigation was carried out to evaluate the efficiencies of different selective solvents used for the extraction of aromatic hydrocarbons from naphtha (boiling range IBP-200°C) distilled from Saudi Arabian light crude oil. The solvents used were 3-methoxypropionitrile, ethylene glycol, dimethylsulfoxide, sulfolane, phenol, and nitrobenzene. The parameters studied were operating temperature (range 20°-125°C), solvent-to-oil ratio (range 1:1-3:1), selectivity, and solvent capacity. The results indicate that sulfolane exhibits excellent extraction properties in comparison with other solvents. In addition, sulfolane has the advantage of having good solvent properties such as high density, low heat capacity, and appropriate boiling point, which helps simplify separation of the solvent from extract. Sulfolane is also commercially feasible as a solvent for aromatic extraction.

Original language	English
Pages	65-84
Number of pages	20
Volume	18
No	1
Specialist publication	Energy Sources
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/00908319608908748
State	Published - 1996

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Keywords dimethylsulfoxide, ethylene glycol, naphtha, nitrobenzene, phenol, Saudi Arabian light crude, solvent capacity, solvent extraction, sulfolane, 3-methoxypropionitrile Aromatic hydrocarbons are very important to the petrochemical industry. Among these are benzene, toluene, and xylene (BTX), which are basic raw materials for the production of a number of important petrochemicals. Benzene is used in the production of styrene, aniline, phenol, and other chemicals. Xylene is converted to o-phthalic acid and terephthalic acid. Aromatics extracted from naphtha are also used as thinner for certain types of paints. The aromatic hydrocarbons are separated from naphtha using a liquid-liquid extraction process. Many solvents have been used for the extraction of aromatics, including diethylene glycol, sulfolane, dimethylsulfoxide, 3-methoxypropionitrile (3-MOPN), and n-methylpyro-llidone (NMP). The choice of a solvent depends upon the properties and boiling range of the feedstock. Through the years, a host of selective solvents has been proposed and selected for the physical separation of aromatics in extraction and extractive distillation. Among the selection criteria are the stability, chemical Received 3 December 1994; accepted 29 December 1994. The authors wish to acknowledge the support of this work by the Chemical Engineering Department and the Research Institute of the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. Address correspondence to Syed Halirn Hamid, Petroleum and Gas Technology Division, Research Institute, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia.

Keywords

3-methoxypropionitrile
Dimethylsulfoxide
Ethylene glycol
Naphtha
Nitrobenzene
Phenol
Saudi Arabian light crude
Solvent capacity
Solvent extraction
Sulfolane

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Chemical Engineering
Fuel Technology
Energy Engineering and Power Technology

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10.1080/00908319608908748

Cite this

@misc{084eaf95031547578305637ecc5aebbf,

title = "Comparative study of solvents for the extraction of aromatics from naphtha",

abstract = "An experimental investigation was carried out to evaluate the efficiencies of different selective solvents used for the extraction of aromatic hydrocarbons from naphtha (boiling range IBP-200°C) distilled from Saudi Arabian light crude oil. The solvents used were 3-methoxypropionitrile, ethylene glycol, dimethylsulfoxide, sulfolane, phenol, and nitrobenzene. The parameters studied were operating temperature (range 20°-125°C), solvent-to-oil ratio (range 1:1-3:1), selectivity, and solvent capacity. The results indicate that sulfolane exhibits excellent extraction properties in comparison with other solvents. In addition, sulfolane has the advantage of having good solvent properties such as high density, low heat capacity, and appropriate boiling point, which helps simplify separation of the solvent from extract. Sulfolane is also commercially feasible as a solvent for aromatic extraction.",

keywords = "3-methoxypropionitrile, Dimethylsulfoxide, Ethylene glycol, Naphtha, Nitrobenzene, Phenol, Saudi Arabian light crude, Solvent capacity, Solvent extraction, Sulfolane",

author = "Hamid, \{Syed Halim\} and Ali, \{Mohammed Ashraf\}",

note = "Funding Information: Keywords dimethylsulfoxide, ethylene glycol, naphtha, nitrobenzene, phenol, Saudi Arabian light crude, solvent capacity, solvent extraction, sulfolane, 3-methoxypropionitrile Aromatic hydrocarbons are very important to the petrochemical industry. Among these are benzene, toluene, and xylene (BTX), which are basic raw materials for the production of a number of important petrochemicals. Benzene is used in the production of styrene, aniline, phenol, and other chemicals. Xylene is converted to o-phthalic acid and terephthalic acid. Aromatics extracted from naphtha are also used as thinner for certain types of paints. The aromatic hydrocarbons are separated from naphtha using a liquid-liquid extraction process. Many solvents have been used for the extraction of aromatics, including diethylene glycol, sulfolane, dimethylsulfoxide, 3-methoxypropionitrile (3-MOPN), and n-methylpyro-llidone (NMP). The choice of a solvent depends upon the properties and boiling range of the feedstock. Through the years, a host of selective solvents has been proposed and selected for the physical separation of aromatics in extraction and extractive distillation. Among the selection criteria are the stability, chemical Received 3 December 1994; accepted 29 December 1994. The authors wish to acknowledge the support of this work by the Chemical Engineering Department and the Research Institute of the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. Address correspondence to Syed Halirn Hamid, Petroleum and Gas Technology Division, Research Institute, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia.",

year = "1996",

doi = "10.1080/00908319608908748",

language = "English",

volume = "18",

pages = "65--84",

journal = "Energy Sources",

issn = "0090-8312",

publisher = "Taylor \& Francis Group LLC",

}

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T1 - Comparative study of solvents for the extraction of aromatics from naphtha

AU - Hamid, Syed Halim

AU - Ali, Mohammed Ashraf

N1 - Funding Information: Keywords dimethylsulfoxide, ethylene glycol, naphtha, nitrobenzene, phenol, Saudi Arabian light crude, solvent capacity, solvent extraction, sulfolane, 3-methoxypropionitrile Aromatic hydrocarbons are very important to the petrochemical industry. Among these are benzene, toluene, and xylene (BTX), which are basic raw materials for the production of a number of important petrochemicals. Benzene is used in the production of styrene, aniline, phenol, and other chemicals. Xylene is converted to o-phthalic acid and terephthalic acid. Aromatics extracted from naphtha are also used as thinner for certain types of paints. The aromatic hydrocarbons are separated from naphtha using a liquid-liquid extraction process. Many solvents have been used for the extraction of aromatics, including diethylene glycol, sulfolane, dimethylsulfoxide, 3-methoxypropionitrile (3-MOPN), and n-methylpyro-llidone (NMP). The choice of a solvent depends upon the properties and boiling range of the feedstock. Through the years, a host of selective solvents has been proposed and selected for the physical separation of aromatics in extraction and extractive distillation. Among the selection criteria are the stability, chemical Received 3 December 1994; accepted 29 December 1994. The authors wish to acknowledge the support of this work by the Chemical Engineering Department and the Research Institute of the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. Address correspondence to Syed Halirn Hamid, Petroleum and Gas Technology Division, Research Institute, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia.

PY - 1996

Y1 - 1996

N2 - An experimental investigation was carried out to evaluate the efficiencies of different selective solvents used for the extraction of aromatic hydrocarbons from naphtha (boiling range IBP-200°C) distilled from Saudi Arabian light crude oil. The solvents used were 3-methoxypropionitrile, ethylene glycol, dimethylsulfoxide, sulfolane, phenol, and nitrobenzene. The parameters studied were operating temperature (range 20°-125°C), solvent-to-oil ratio (range 1:1-3:1), selectivity, and solvent capacity. The results indicate that sulfolane exhibits excellent extraction properties in comparison with other solvents. In addition, sulfolane has the advantage of having good solvent properties such as high density, low heat capacity, and appropriate boiling point, which helps simplify separation of the solvent from extract. Sulfolane is also commercially feasible as a solvent for aromatic extraction.

AB - An experimental investigation was carried out to evaluate the efficiencies of different selective solvents used for the extraction of aromatic hydrocarbons from naphtha (boiling range IBP-200°C) distilled from Saudi Arabian light crude oil. The solvents used were 3-methoxypropionitrile, ethylene glycol, dimethylsulfoxide, sulfolane, phenol, and nitrobenzene. The parameters studied were operating temperature (range 20°-125°C), solvent-to-oil ratio (range 1:1-3:1), selectivity, and solvent capacity. The results indicate that sulfolane exhibits excellent extraction properties in comparison with other solvents. In addition, sulfolane has the advantage of having good solvent properties such as high density, low heat capacity, and appropriate boiling point, which helps simplify separation of the solvent from extract. Sulfolane is also commercially feasible as a solvent for aromatic extraction.

KW - 3-methoxypropionitrile

KW - Dimethylsulfoxide

KW - Ethylene glycol

KW - Naphtha

KW - Nitrobenzene

KW - Phenol

KW - Saudi Arabian light crude

KW - Solvent capacity

KW - Solvent extraction

KW - Sulfolane

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DO - 10.1080/00908319608908748

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:0029753566

SN - 0090-8312

VL - 18

SP - 65

EP - 84

JO - Energy Sources

JF - Energy Sources

ER -

Comparative study of solvents for the extraction of aromatics from naphtha

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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