UOP Sulfolane process

UOP s Parex Process UOP Sulfolane process UOP Udex Process Upilex UpilexR... 

Removal of Aromatic Compounds. Because of the demand for high-purity aromatic compounds for petrochemical feedstocks, several processes have been developed for BTX (benzene, toluene, and xylenes) recovery from distillate streams. In these processes, aromatic compounds are separated from nonaromatic compounds by liquid—liquid extraction using polar solvents. The three major processes in use are the UOP—Dow UDEX process (di- or triethylene glycol solvent), the UOP sulfolane process (tetrahydrothiophene 1,1-dioxide), and the Union Carbide TETRA process (tetraethylene glycol). 

Application The UOP Sulfolane process recovers high-purlty C -Cg aro-... 

UOP LLC, A Honeywell Co. Aromatics extraction Reformate, pyrolysis gasoline or coke oven light oil UOP Sulfolane process recovers high-purity C -Cg aromatics from hydrocarbon mixtures, such as reformed petroleum naphtha (reformate), pyrolysis gasoline (pygas), or coke oven light oil (COLO), by extractive distillation with or without liquid-liquid extraction 139 NA... 

Generally, low solubility favors adsorption. The dramatic effects of the solute-solvent interaction on adsorption may be illusffated by adsorption of aqueous solutions of thiolane and its derivative, sulfolane. Sulfolane is of interest because it has been used for more than 40 years for solvent extraction in a number of industrial processes (e.g., the Sulfinol process for CO2 removal, the UOP Sulfolane process for recovery of aromatics from hydrocarbons, processes for extraction of fatty acids, etc.). It has now become a serious pollutant for ground water, however. The structures of sulfolane and thiolane are shown in Figure 5.10. The adsorption isotherms of their aqueous solutions on a clay sorbent are given in Figure 5.11 (Kim et al 1999). The clay had a cation exchange capacity of 0.3 meq/g, and its surface was relatively polar (more polar than carbon but less polar than silica gel and activated alumina). 

Commercial plants In 1962, Shell commercialized the Sulfolane process in its refineries in England and Italy. The success of the Sulfolane process led to an agreement in 1965 whereby UOP became the exclusive licensor of the Sulfolane process. Many of the process improvements incorporated in modern Sulfolane units are based on design features and operating techniques developed by UOP. UOP has licensed a total of 134 Sulfolane units throughout the world. 

UOP/Shell BTX, purification Reformate, pyrolysis gasoline Shell Sulfolane process liquid extraction and/or extractive distillation with sulfolane solvent 123 1998... 

Application The UOP Extractive Distillation (ED) Sulfolane process recovers high-purity aromatics from hydrocarbon mixtures by extractive distillation. Extractive Distillation is a lower cost, more suitable option for feeds rich in aromatics containing mostly benzene and/or toluene. 

Phillips Chemical s Sulfolane-W meets all specifications for the Sulfolane process licensed by UOP, Inc. 

Sulfolane has a markedly better capacity than diethylene glycol for dissolving aromatics. In the Sulfolane process, first carried out technically by Shell and UOP in 1961, the mass ratio of solvent to feedstock is 3-6 1. A large number of plants which used to apply the Udex process have now been revamped to sulfolane use (Figure 4.7). 

Sulfolane A process for removing aromatic hydrocarbons from petroleum fractions by liquid-liquid extraction using sulfolane (tetramethylene sulfone tetrahydrothiophene-1,1-dioxide) at approximately 190°C. Developed by Shell Development Company in 1959 and first commercialized in 1962 now licensed through UOP. It replaced the Udex process. Sulfolane is used for another purpose in the Sulfinol process. 

Commercial plants UOP is the world s leading licensor of process technology for aromatics production. UOP has licensed more than 600 separate process units for aromatics production, including over 200 CCR Platforming units, 134 Sulfolane units, 80 Parex units, 61 Isomar units, 44 Tatoray units and 38 THDA units. 

Sulfur-X A process for removing sulfur compounds (principally thiophene) from naphtha by solvent extraction with sulfolane. Developed by UOP and announced in 2002. This process does not require hydrogen, which gives it an advantage over competing desulfurization processes. 

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