Integrated fractionation in the recovery of alkylaromatic hydrocarbons

Claim 1

A process for recovering an alkylaromatic hydrocarbon from the effluent stream of an aromatic hydrocarbon alkylation zone which comprises the steps of: (a) passing an alkylation zone effluent stream which comprises a feed aromatic hydrocarbon, a product alkylaromatic hydrocarbon, and a by-product alkylaromatic having a higher boiling point than the product alkylaromatic hydrocarbon into a first fractionation column at a first intermediate point, with a first reboiler being located at the bottom of the first fractionation column; (b) supplying heat to the first fractionation column by vaporizing bottoms liquid by indirect heat exchange in said first reboiler and passing the resultant vapors into the first fractionation column, with the resultant vapor having a first temperature; (c) recovering a first net overhead product stream, which is rich in the feed aromatic hydrocarbon, from the first fractionation column; (d) removing a first net bottoms stream, which is rich in the product alkylaromatic hydrocarbon, from the first fractionation column and passing the first net bottoms stream into a second fractionation column; (e) removing a second net bottoms stream, which is rich in the by-product alkylaromatic hydrocarbon, from the second fractionation column; (f) supplying additional heat to the first fractionation column by vaporizing process liquid withdrawn at a second intermediate point located below said first intermediate point and having a lower average boiling point than the bottoms liquid entering the first reboiler in a second reboiler, with the created vapor having a second temperature lower than said first temperature; (g) passing a second overhead vapor stream, which is withdrawn from the second fractionation column and is rich in said product alkylaromatic hydrocarbon, through the second reboiler in indirect heat exchange relationship with said process liquid withdrawn at said second intermediate point, which results in vaporizing said process liquid and at least partially condensing the second overhead vapor stream and thereby forming a condensate; and, (h) withdrawing a first portion of said condensate as a product steam of the process and passing a second portion of said condensate into the second fractionation column as reflux.