Extract recycle in a hydrocarbon decontamination process
AssigneeUop LLC
InventorsRajeswar R. Gattupalli, Beckay J. Mezza, Alakananda Bhattacharyya, Carl J. Stevens, Joao Jorge da Silva Ferreira Alves, Massimo Sangalli
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Abstract
Recycle of an extract stream containing a contaminant is used to improve recovery of hydrocarbons in a contaminant removal process. At least a portion of an extract stream is recycled to a contaminant extraction zone and contacted with rich ionic liquid. Contaminants in the recycle extract stream are transferred to the rich ionic liquid.
Claims20
A method of regenerating a rich ionic liquid stream, the rich ionic liquid stream containing a contaminant, the method comprising:
- contacting the rich ionic liquid stream with a recycle extract stream containing the contaminant in a contaminant extraction zone to transfer at least a portion of the contaminant in the recycle extract stream to the rich ionic liquid stream, wherein the ionic liquid is immiscible in a hydrocarbon;
- separating an effluent from the contaminant extraction zone into a lean ionic liquid stream and an extract stream containing the contaminant, wherein at least a portion of the extract stream containing the contaminant comprises the recycle extract stream.
A method of decontaminating a hydrocarbon feed containing a contaminant comprising:
- contacting an ionic liquid with the hydrocarbon feed in a feed extraction zone to transfer the contaminant from the hydrocarbon feed to the ionic liquid to form a decontaminated hydrocarbon stream and a rich ionic liquid stream, wherein the ionic liquid is immiscible in a hydrocarbon;
- contacting the rich ionic liquid stream with a recycle extract stream containing the contaminant in a contaminant extraction zone to transfer at least a portion of the contaminant in the recycle extract stream to the rich ionic liquid;
- separating an effluent from the contaminant extraction zone into a lean ionic liquid stream and an extract stream containing the contaminant, wherein at least a portion of the extract stream containing the contaminant comprises the recycle extract stream;
- and
- recovering the decontaminated hydrocarbon stream.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.