Description : | A naphtha cracker is the heart of any petrochemical complex. Selection of cracker feedstock is one of the most important issues as it not only affects the yield and quality of products but also cracker furnace operation. Keeping this in mind, the preferred feedstock is low aromatic content naphtha (<12% of aromatics). Aromatics are undesirable as they do not add any ethylene value due to their refractory nature and produce undesirable black oil. However, maintaining constant supply of low aromatic naphtha is not an easy task due to quality and price fluctuations in the market. On the contrary running naphtha crackers at full capacity is critical for operating all downstream plants at full capacity. Process Highlights:
1. Solvent Extraction is the most suitable process operation for de-aromatizing petrochemical feedstocks having a wide boiling range like SRN, Pyrolysis Gasoline, Reformate, etc.
2. Initial capital expenditure may be higher but operational costs are significantly lower than Extractive distillation.
3. Purity and yield of products are both high
4. Product purity and yield may be tailored by varying process parameters and configuration
5. Solvent Extraction is not as energy intensive as Extractive Distillation
6. Solvent System used is well established, versatile, tunable as per product requirements, thermally and oxidatively stable
7. The process is heat integrated to minimize utility requirements
8. Adequate measures have been taken to prevent solvent contamination of the final products
9. Process recycle loops minimize solvent loss through the product outlet lines |