The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 12, 1996
Filed:
Jun. 29, 1995
John L Pickering, Jr, Kingwood, TX (US);
Mobil Oil Corporation, Fairfax, VA (US);
Abstract
A distillation process and apparatus for recovering high purity aromatic products from a mixed aromatic hydrocarbon feedstock containing benzene, toluene and xylene by use of distillation towers integrated by heat exchange whereby substantial savings in operating costs and apparatus costs are realized. The distillation apparatus includes a benzene distillation tower and heat exchanger, a first toluene distillation tower and external heater, a second toluene distillation tower and heat exchanger and a xylene distillation tower and external heater, whereby the benzene distillation tower and heat exchanger are operably connected to the first toluene distillation tower and external heater and the second toluene distillation tower and heat exchanger are operably connected to the xylene distillation tower and external heater. A feature of the integrated method and apparatus is the utilization of the overhead fraction from the first toluene distillation tower as the source of reboil heat in the benzene distillation tower, and the utilization of the overhead fraction from the xylene distillation tower as the source of reboil heat in the second toluene distillation tower. Another feature of the integrated method and apparatus of the invention is the operation of the first toluene distillation tower at an elevated temperature and pressure and the operation of the second toluene distillation at a lower temperature and pressure.