Separation Science and Technology, Vol.39, No.5, 1093-1109, 2004
Separation of valuable bicyclic aromatic components from light cycle oil by an emulsion liquid membrane
Emulsion liquid membrane permeation was used to separate bicyclic aromatic components [the naphthalene (NA) group components with carbon number 10-12] from light cycle oil (LCO). A batch-stirred tank was used as a permeation unit. An aqueous solution of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) and saponin and n-hexane were used as the liquid membrane and the outer oil phase, respectively. The smaller the carbon number of the NA group component, the higher were the permeation rate and selectivity in reference to a paraffin component [n-nonane (NO)]. The larger the differences of carbon number among the NA group components with a different carbon number, the easier was the separation. The selectivity of aromatic components with the same carbon number was 1, so the separation between isomer components was difficult. Increasing the concentration of the permeation promoter (DMSO) into the liquid membrane and the stirring speed enhanced the permeability of the NA group components, yet reduced the selectivity. As the volume ratio of the solvent/(O/W) emulsion was increased, the permeability and selectivity of the NA group components were increased.
Keywords:dimethynaphthalene;light cycle oil;bicyclic aromatic component;O/W emulsion;permeation rate