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US 2012/0074043 A1Published application
Separation of aromatics with pervaporation membrane
AssigneeConocoPhillips Company
InventorsSumod Kalakkunnath, Richard L. Anderson, James A. Anderson, Richard D. Sadok, Prakash A. Karpe
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus relate to separating and removing aromatic compounds from a hydrocarbon stream. Splitting of the hydrocarbon stream into constituents as desired relies on a membrane and distillation columns that supply feed into the membrane and receive retentate and permeate streams output from the membrane. Configurations employing the membrane and the distillation columns enable benzene recovery and facilitate efficient separation.
Claims20
A method, comprising:
- passing a hydrocarbon stream through a first distillation column to separate a first fraction containing aromatics from a second fraction;
- passing the first fraction through a membrane unit to generate a retentate stream and a permeate stream with higher benzene content than the retentate stream;
- passing the retentate stream through a second distillation column to provide first fractionated outputs with one further concentrated in toluene relative to the retentate stream;
- and
- passing the permeate stream through a third distillation column to provide second fractionated outputs with one further concentrated in benzene relative to the permeate stream.
2 more elements
A method, comprising:
- passing a hydrocarbon stream through a first distillation column to separate a top fraction containing aromatics from a bottom fraction;
- passing the top fraction through a membrane unit to generate a retentate stream and a permeate stream with higher benzene content than the retentate stream;
- passing the retentate stream through a second distillation column for overhead removal of benzene such that remaining output of the second distillation column is further concentrated in toluene relative to the retentate stream;
- and
- passing the permeate stream through a third distillation column for overhead removal of components lighter than benzene such that remaining output of the third distillation column is further concentrated in benzene relative to the permeate stream.
2 more elements
A method, comprising:
- passing a hydrocarbon stream through a first distillation column to separate a bottom fraction containing aromatics from a top fraction;
- passing the bottom fraction through a membrane unit to generate a retentate stream and a permeate stream with higher benzene content than the retentate stream;
- passing the retentate stream through a second distillation column for overhead removal of toluene concentrated relative to the retentate stream due to separation from remaining output of the second distillation column;
- and
- passing the permeate stream through a third distillation column for overhead removal of benzene concentrated relative to the permeate stream due to separation from remaining output of the second distillation column.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.