Separation of Aromatic Solvents from the Reformate Fraction of an Oil Refining Process using Extraction by a Designed Ionic Liquid

Separation of aromatic solvents, from mixtures containing aliphatic solvents as the major fraction, is important, inter alia, for its reuse in industrial processes. This report deals with the use of a designed and synthesized ionic liquid (N-butyl-N-methyl-2-oxopyrrolidonium bromide) for the separation of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX), including all the isomers of xylene. For comparison purposes, a previously-used ionic liquid (1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethyl sulphate) was also synthesized and used. The experimental parameters established for the separation/extraction of the mixed standard of BTEX were applied to the separation/extraction of the components of BTEX from the reformate fraction of an oil refining process. The method was tested for BTEX components varying in concentration from 0.5 to 10%. The results show that the new ionic liquid gives higher extraction efficiency than the one used in a previous project. The results are as good as that obtained by a local oil refinery which used a conventional solvent. Furthermore, the results reveal a general increase in percentages extracted in the following order: m-xylene < p-xylene ~ o-xylene < ethyl benzene < toluene < benzene. Copyright © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.