Comparative study of solvents for the extraction of aromatics from naphtha

An experimental investigation was carried out to evaluate the efficiencies of different selective solvents used for the extraction of aromatic hydrocarbons from naphtha (boiling range IBP-200 degrees C) distilled from Saudi Arabian light crude oil The solvents used were 3-methoxypropionitrile, ethylene glycol, dimethylsulfoxide, sulfolane, phenol, and nitrobenzene. The parameters studied were operating temperature (range 20 degrees-125 degrees C) solvent-to-oil ratio (range 1:1-3:1), selectivity and solvent capacity. The results indicate that sulfolane exhibits excellent extraction properties in comparison with other solvents. In addition, sulfolane has the advantage of having good solvent properties such as high density, low heat capacity and appropriate boiling point, which helps simplify separation of the solvent from extract. Sulfolane is also commercially feasible as a solvent for aromatic extraction.