Modeling and Optimization of Solvent Consumption in the Extraction of Aromatic Hydrocarbons from Naphtha Cut in Liquid-liquid Extraction

Regarding the importance of the aromatic compounds reduction in fuels، the phase equilibrium for extraction of aromatics from naphtha reformate using a mixed solvent of 1-cyclohexyl-2-pyrrolidone (CHP) and ethylene carbonate (EC) have been correlated by using the UNIFAC group contribution model and the experimental data compared favorably to those predicted from the UNIFAC model. The solvent power، processing index، solvent selectivity and capacity for aromatic extraction from the naphtha reformate have been predicted successfully by using the predicted equilibrium data. Percent root mean square error is used for error calculation. The results have shown very good agreement between modeling results and experimental data. Finally، processing index of solvent has been defined and the values of solvent to feed ratio at which the extraction must be carried out have been optimized.