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Design and application of a highly efficient separation technology for C9 arenes
Author(s) -
Zhu Menglei,
Sun Jinsheng,
Tian YuFeng,
Ren Maoming,
Li Xingang
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
asia‐pacific journal of chemical engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.348
H-Index - 35
eISSN - 1932-2143
pISSN - 1932-2135
DOI - 10.1002/apj.19
Subject(s) - distillation , process engineering , product (mathematics) , throughput , separation (statistics) , flow (mathematics) , productivity , computer science , chemistry , manufacturing engineering , engineering , organic chemistry , mathematics , mechanics , telecommunications , physics , geometry , machine learning , wireless , economics , macroeconomics
C9 arenes consist of a series of isomeric compounds with very close boiling points. Although hard to separate by distillation, e.g. the separation of 1,2,4‐trimethylbenzene and 1,3,5‐trimethylbenzene, it was possible to perform flow sheet and equipment analyses of the actual operating data by computer simulation and produce a successful flow sheet revamp. That is, with new separation technology and structured packing technology, the original flow sheet was rearranged and columns were reconstructed. The conclusion of the retrofit demonstrated increased throughput, purity and productivity of 1,2,4‐trimethylbenzene (the main product). In addition, 1,3,5‐trimethylbenzene, a very important by‐product, was obtained at higher purity. This reconstruction brings significant economic benefit and advanced technology for the separation and utilization of C9 arenes in worldwide operations. Copyright © 2007 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.