Separation of oxygenates from a hydrocarbon stream

Abstract

This invention relates to a method for separating olefins and paraffins from oxygenates in a liquid hydrocarbon stream containing a high proportion of olefins, paraffins and oxygenates (mainly alcohols). Typically, the hydrocarbon stream is obtained from a Fischer-Tropsch process. The organic counter-solvent has a boiling point which is less than the boiling point of the most volatile alcohol in the hydrocarbon stream. A raffinate from the liquid-liquid extractor is passed to a distillation column. A bottoms product from the distillation column comprises olefins and paraffins, and the overhead product comprising solvents is recycled. An extract from the liquid-liquid extractor is sent to a stripping column, where a bottoms product containing pure alcohol is obtained. The overhead product containing counter-solvent is recycled.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.