US5120900A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Integrated solvent extraction/membrane extraction with retentate recycle for improved raffinate yield
Assignee: ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Co
•
Filing: 1990-12-05
•
Granted: 1992-06-09
•
Expires: 2010-12-05
Abstract
Abstract Raffinate yield from solvent extraction is improved when the extract phase recovered from the solvent extraction process is subjected to a membrane separation step wherein a saturates/1-ring aromatics rich retentate is produced and a 2+ ring aromatics rich permeate are produced and the saturates/1-ring aromatic rich retentate phase is recycled to the solvent extraction process.
Inventors
- 👤 Tan-Jen Chen
- 👤 James R. Sweet
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 19:41
CPC Classifications
C; C10; C10G; C10G53/00; C10G53/02; C10G53/04; C07; C07C; C07C7/00; C07C7/005; C07C7/10; C07C7/144; C10G21/00; C10G21/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
A process for increasing the yield of raffinate produced in the solvent extraction of hydrocarbons, said process including the steps of contacting a hydrocarbon feed with a selective aromatics extraction solvent to produce a saturates rich raffinate phase and an aromatics rich extract solution phase in a solvent extraction zone, removing the extraction solvent from the extract solution phase to produce recovered solvent and an extract oil, passing the extract oil to a membrane separation process wherein a saturates/1-ring aromatics rich retentate is produced and a 2+ ring aromatics rich permeate is produced and recycling the saturates/1-ring aromatics retentate back to the solvent extraction step for addition to the hydrocarbon feed for processing in the selective solvent extraction step thereby recovering the saturates/1-ring aromatics present in the retentate phase as part of the raffinate from the solvent extraction zone.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
139 words
A process for increasing the yield of raffinate produced in the solvent extraction of hydrocarbons, said process including the steps of contacting a hydrocarbon feed with a selective aromatics extraction solvent to produce a saturates rich raffinate phase and an aromatics rich extract solution phase in a solvent extraction zone, removing the extraction solvent from the extract solution phase to produce recovered solvent and an extract oil, passing the extract oil to a membrane separation process wherein a saturates/1-ring aromatics rich retentate is produced and a 2+ ring aromatics rich permeate is produced and recycling the saturates/1-ring aromatics retentate back to the solvent extraction step for addition to the hydrocarbon feed for processing in the selective solvent extraction step thereby recovering the saturates/1-ring aromatics present in the retentate phase as part of the raffinate from the solvent extraction zone.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
72 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the membrane separation process comprises passing the extract oil along one face of a non-selective porous partition barrier membrane while simultaneously contacting the opposite face of said membrane with an aromatics selective extraction solvent wherein the multi-ring aromatics selectively permeate through the porous partition membrane in response to the selective aromatics extraction solvent yielding a saturates/1-ring aromatics rich retentate and a 2+ ring aromatics rich permeate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process of claim 2 wherein the selective aromatics extraction solvent used in the membrane separation process is selected from phenol, furfural, sulfolane, N-methyl 2-pyrrolidone and aliphatic polyamines.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 2 wherein the porous partition barrier has a pore size in the range 100 to 5000 Å.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 4 wherein the porous partition barrier is an ultrafiltration membrane selected from polyethylene, polypropylene, teflon and cellulose.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the selective aromatics extraction solvent is recovered from the extract solution phase coming from the solvent extraction process step by distillation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the retentate is recycled to the solvent extraction zone in an amount ranging from 5 to 50 wt. % based on feed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the hydrocarbon feed boils in the about 320° to 1100° F. range.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-06-09 | 1995-12-09 | 1996-06-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-06-09 | 1999-12-09 | 2000-06-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-06-09 | 2003-12-09 | 2004-06-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |