Method of separation of aromates by extractive distillation

A method of separation of aromates from hydrocarbon mixture by extractive distillation with a selective solvent, comprising introducing a hydrocarbon mixture into the extractive distillation column, distillating out non-aromate components of the introduced hydrocarbon mixture from a head of the extractive distillation column;

• withdrawing aromates together with a used solvent from a sump of the extractive distillation column and supplying to a driving out column;
• separating the aromates from the solvent in the driving-out column;
• withdrawing the aromates as a head product and the solvent as a sump product from the driving-out column;
• reintroducing the withdrawn solvent into the extractive distillation column, said withdrawing of the solvent from the driving-out column including withdrawing only a part of the solvent as a solvent partial stream with a higher temperature and a lower aromate content from the sump of the driving out column, while a remaining portion of the solvent with a higher aromate content and a lower temperature is withdrawn as a side stream from the driving-out column;
• reintroducing the side stream into the extractive distillation column at a location which is 6-10 plate below an inlet from the solvent stream coming from the sump of the driving-out column, and separating residual solvent from the recovered non-aromates in an additional column located above the extractive distillation column.