Lyondell Chemical Technology, L.p.

James D Montano-Lawrence

Sandor M Nagy

Barbara Kimmich

Ha H Nguyen

Anthony S Dearth

Nicholas Bruschi

Debra L Jackson

Dan D Lindsey

Justin E Turner

A method including contacting an organic stream with water and carbon dioxide, whereby sodium is extracted from the organic stream, and separating an aqueous sodium salt-containing phase from an organic phase comprising a reduced sodium content. The organic stream can be a heavy residue formed in the co-production of propylene oxide and styrene. Contacting can include combining the carbon dioxide with the water to form a CO-saturated water stream and contacting the CO-saturated water stream with the organic stream, and/or combining the organic stream and the water to form a mixture and injecting the carbon dioxide as a gas thereinto. The method can further include repeating the contacting and the separating one or more times on the organic phase, subjecting the organic phase to ion exchange, or both, to obtain an organic phase having a further reduced sodium content. A system for carrying out the method is also provided.

Waste stream upgrading in a propylene oxide/styrene coproduction process

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Houston, TX, United States of America

James D Montano-Lawrence