# US 2013/0158330 A1 · Process and Apparatus for para-Xylene Production Using Multiple Adsorptive Separation Units and a Split Fractionating Column > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0158330 A1 - Document ID: US20130158330A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/327,029 - Filed: 2011-12-15 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-15 - Assignees: Uop LLC - Inventors: Jason T. Corradi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130158330A1 ## CPC - C07C 7/005: {Processes comprising at least two steps in series} - B01D 3/141: {where at least one distillation column contains at least one dividing wall} - B01D 3/40: Extractive distillation - C07C 7/04: by distillation - C07C 7/13: by molecular-sieve technique - C07C: ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) ## Abstract A process for separating para-xylene from a plurality of xylene isomers, wherein the process introduces at a first feed point a first mixed xylene stream comprising a plurality of xylene isomers into a first adsorptive separation unit to produce a first para-xylene enriched stream and a first raffinate stream, and introduces a second mixed xylene stream comprising a plurality of xylene isomers into a second adsorptive separation unit to produce a second raffinate stream. The process feeds both the first raffinate stream and the second raffinate stream into a raffinate column. The process further introduces an extract stream from the second adsorptive separation unit into a first input of a split extract column comprising an internal partition defining a first distillation zone and a second distillation zone. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A process for separating para-xylene from a plurality of xylene isomers, the process comprising: introducing at a first feed point a first mixed xylene stream comprising a plurality of xylene isomers into a first adsorptive separation unit to produce a first para-xylene enriched stream and a first raffinate stream; introducing a second mixed xylene stream comprising a plurality of xylene isomers into a second adsorptive separation unit to produce a second raffinate stream; feeding both said first raffinate stream and said second raffinate stream into a raffinate column; and introducing an extract stream from said second adsorptive separation unit into first input of a split extract column comprising an internal partition defining a first distillation zone and a second distillation zone, said split extract column comprising said first input for said first distillation zone, a second input for said second distillation zone, a first output for said first distillation zone, a second output for said second distillation zone. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, further comprising: producing by said raffinate column a C8 raffinate stream; introducing the C8 raffinate stream into an isomerization unit to produce said second mixed xylene stream, and a drag stream in fluid communication with a aromatic conversion unit; generating a mixture of aromatic compounds by said aromatic conversion unit; and introducing said mixture of aromatic compounds in said second input of said split extract column. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The process of claim 2, further comprising: forming a third mixed xylene stream in said split extract column, wherein said third mixed xylene stream comprises a greater concentration of para-xylene than said first mixed xylene stream or said second mixed xylene stream; and introducing said third mixed xylene stream into said first adsorptive separation unit at a second feed point. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, wherein: the first raffinate stream enters the raffinate column at a first location; the C8 raffinate stream exits the raffinate column at a second location; the second raffinate stream enters the raffinate column at a third location; and wherein the second location is disposed between the first location and the third location. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The process of claim 4, further comprising introducing said first enriched para-xylene stream into a first extract column. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The process of claim 4, further comprising introducing an output stream from the first extract column into a finishing column to produce a para-xylene product stream. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The process of claim 6, further comprising: introducing into a xylene fractionation unit a mixture of C8+ aromatic compounds from said second output of said split extract column; introducing a plurality of aromatic compounds into said xylene fractionation unit; and providing from said xylene fractionation unit said first mixed xylene stream. ### Claim 8 A fractional distillation column, comprising: a housing comprising a first height; a partition comprising a second height and disposed within said housing, wherein said partition defines a first distillation zone and a second distillation zone; a first input port formed to extend through said housing and into said first distillation zone; a first output port formed to extend outwardly from said first distillation zone and through said housing; a second input port formed to extend through said housing and into said second distillation zone; and a second output port formed to extend outwardly from said second distillation zone and through said housing. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The fractional distillation column of claim 8, wherein: said housing comprises a bottom portion; said partition extends upwardly from said bottom portion; and said second height is less than said first height. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The fractional distillation column of claim 9, wherein: said partition comprises a top portion; and said first input port extends through said housing below said top portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The fractional distillation column of claim 10, further comprising: a first plurality of distillation trays disposed in said first distillation zone; a second plurality of distillation trays disposed in said second distillation zone; and wherein at least four distillation trays are disposed between said first input port and said top portion of said partition. ### Claim 12 An apparatus for separating para-xylene from a plurality of xylene isomers, comprising: a first adsorptive separation unit; a second adsorptive separation unit; a raffinate column in fluid communication with both said first adsorptive separation unit and said second adsorptive separation unit; and a split extract column in fluid communication with said second adsorptive separation unit. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said split extract column comprises: a housing comprising a first height; a partition comprising a second height and disposed within said housing, wherein said partition defines a first distillation zone and a second distillation zone; a first input port formed to extend through said housing and into said first distillation zone; a first output port formed to extend outwardly from said first distillation zone and through said housing; a second input port formed to extend through said housing and into said second distillation zone; and a second output port formed to extend outwardly from said second distillation zone and through said housing. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein: said housing comprises a bottom portion; said partition extends upwardly from said bottom portion; and said second height is less than said first height. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, wherein: said partition comprises a top portion; and said first input port extends through said housing below said top portion. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said split fractional distillation column further comprises: a first plurality of distillation trays disposed in said first distillation zone; a second plurality of distillation trays disposed in said second distillation zone; and wherein at least four distillation trays are disposed between said first input port and said top portion of said partition. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising: an isomerization unit in fluid communication with both said raffinate column and said second adsorptive separation unit. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17, wherein: said raffinate column comprises a first input, a second input, and an output; said first adsorptive separation unit is in fluid communication with said first input; and said second adsorptive separation unit is in fluid communication with said second input. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said isomerization unit in fluid communication with said output. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising: a first extract column in fluid communication with the first adsorptive separation unit; and a finishing column in fluid communication with the first extract column.