Interphase Distribution of Thiophene, Toluene, and o-Xylene in the Hexane–Polymer–Water Extraction System

Abstract

The extraction of sulfur-containing and aromatic compounds from light hydrocarbons using water-soluble polymers has been studied experimentally and theoretically. During experimental studies, the extraction of thiophene, toluene, and o-xylene from n-hexane using extraction systems based on polyethylene glycols with different molecular weights, polypropylene glycol 425, and polyvinylpyrrolidone 3500 has been investigated. Based on mathematical modeling, the dependences of distribution coefficients for toluene and o-xylene on the concentration of the polymer using an extraction system based on polyethylene glycol 400 have been derived. The results of this study can be used in the development of new extraction processes for purifying light hydrocarbon fractions from sulfur-containing and aromatic compounds.