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6965749 
Journal Article 
Bio-based solvents as entrainers for extractive distillation in aromatic/aliphatic and olefin/paraffin separation 
Brouwer, T; Schuur, B; , 
2020 
Yes 
Green Chemistry
ISSN: 1463-9262
EISSN: 1463-9270 
ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY 
CAMBRIDGE 
5369-5375 
WOS:000560944400014 
The use of a wide range of bio-based solvents as entrainers in extractive distillation applications was investigated. The separation of hydrocarbon mixtures containing aromatic and aliphatic compounds is highly relevant, and the use of bio-based solvents for this separation was studied using the model system of methylcyclohexane and toluene. Additionally, the use of bio-based solvents for the difficult olefin/paraffin separation was studied using the model system ofn-heptane and 1-heptene. From all of the bio-based solvents studied, Cyrene (TM) showed the highest relative volatility in the methylcyclohexane-toluene system. At compositions up to 40 wt% of methylcyclohexane in the hydrocarbon mixture, with a relative volatility of 3.17 +/- 0.16 at 1000 mbar, the selectivity was comparable with the state-of-the-art industrial solvent Sulfolane (TM). At higher methylcyclohexane fractions, Cyrene (TM) outperforms Sulfolane (TM), resulting in a 43% reduction of the minimum reflux ratio, which is an excellent measure of energy efficiency. With regard to the relative volatility ofn-heptane over 1-heptene, Cyrene (TM) also induces an increase in the relative volatility, but not as much as the industrial benchmarkn-methylpyrrolidone (NMP). A relative volatility of 1.20 was measured at a solvent-to-feed ratio of 3 (mass basis), which can be further increased by the addition of extra Cyrene (TM). This leads to the prospect that Cyrene (TM) may be used for extractive distillation in olefin/paraffin separations, replacing NMP which is subject to severe environmental restrictions by the REACH agreement due to toxicity.