Recovery of aromatics

Claim 1

A LIQUID-LIQUID SOLVENT EXTRACTION PROCESS FOR SEPARATING AN AROMATIC PRODUCT FROM A MIXTURE OF AROMATIC AND NON-AROMATIC WHICH COMPRISES: (1) CONTACTING SAID MIXTURE IN AN EXTRACTION ZONE WITH A WATER-MISCIBLE, AROMATIC-SELECTIVE SOLVENT BOILING ABOVE THE BOILING POINT OF THE AROMATICS TO BE EXTRACTED, (2) RECOVERING A RAFFINATE PHASE COMPRISING NON-AROMATICS AND A MONOR AMOUNT OF SOLVENT, AND AN EXTRACT PHASE COMPRISING AROMATICS, SOLVENT AND A MINOR AMOUNT OF NON-AROMATICS, (3) WATER-WASHING SAID RAFFINATE TO RECOVER SOLVENT THEREFROM AS A WATER WASH MIXTURE OF SOLVENT, WATER, AND A MINOR AMOUNT OF NON-AROMATICS, (4) INTRODUCING THE EXTRACT PHASE INTO THE TOP OF AN EXTRACTIVE STRIPPING ZONE WHEREIN DISTILLING TAKES PLACE FOR RECOVERY OF A FIRST DISTILLATE COMPRISING NON-AROMATICS FOR RETURN TO THE EXTRACTION ZONE AND A FIRST BOTTOMS PRODUCT COMPRISING SOLVENT, WATER, AND AROMATICS, (5) INTRODUCING SAID WATER-WASH MIXTURE OF SOLVENT, WATER, AND MINOR AMOUNT OF NON-AROMATICS INTO THE LOWER PORTION OF THE EXTRACTIVE STRIPPING ZONE WHEREBY NON-AROMATICS OF THE WATER-WASH MIXTURE ARE RECOVERED IN THE FIRST DISTILLATE AND RETURNED TO THE EXTRACTION ZONE, (6) DISTILLING SAID FIRST BOTTOMS PRODUCT IN A SOLVENT STRIPPING ZONE FOR RECOVERY OF A SECOND DISTILLATE PRODUCT COMPRISING SAID AROMATIC PRODUCT AND A SECOND BOTTOMS PRODUCT COMPRISING LEAN SOLVENT AND WATER FOR RETURN TO THE EXTRACTION ZONE.