BUTENEX

BUTANE/BUTENE SEPARATION

Large quantities of C4 hydrocarbons are yielded in steam cracking plants operating on

naphtha basis and in catalytic cracking plants. Following extraction of the butadienes, these
C4 hydrocarbons are only of slight value and up to now have been frequently used as fuel.
Recently interest has been growing in the processing of this by-product, since, together
with the C4 mono-olefines (butenes), it contains valuable particles for use in chemical
syntheses.

One problem in the recovery of butenes is the separation of butanes, which boil in the same
range as butenes. This problem cannot be solved economically by simple rectification, if at
the same time high yields and purities are requires. In this case, extractive distillation
proves to offer a better solution.

On the basis of its extensive experience in the field of recovery of aromatics using
extraction and extractive distillation methods, Krupp Koppers developed a modern
extractive distillation process for separating butenes from butanes. This new process is
called Butenex.

In the extractive distillation process, the addition of a selective solvent changes the vapour
pressures of the components present in the feedstock in such a way that butane and butene
can be separated from each other by distillation.

The Butenex Process is particularly characterized by its low consumption of utilities, high
product yields and great flexibility with regard to feedstock and final products.

Some possible fields of application are shown in the enclosed process sheets.

The Butenex Process developed by Krupp Koppers works with a simple arrangement of
equipment, consisting of extractive distillation and stripper columns.

A Special characteristic of the process is the use of a solvent which is superior in many
respects to other conventional solvents. The advantages of the solvent are as follows:

1. Optimum combination of high selectivity and solvent efficiency

High selectivity and good solvent efficiency are prerequisites for effective extractive
distillation. These are the salient features of the solvent used by Krupp Koppers

2. High chemical and thermal stability

The solvent shows extremely high chemical and thermal stability. No corrosion occurs in
the equipment and in general, carbon steel can be used throughout.

The solvents susceptibility to polycondensation or gumming is extremely slight. Solvent

consumption and regeneration costs are therefore kept correspondingly low.
3. Low price

The solvent is manufactured on a large scale and is reasonably priced.

SEPARATION OF n- butane AND butene-2 IN AN EXTRACTIVE DISTILLATION

UNIT USING THE BUTENEX PROCESS

The processing of a C4 hydrocarbon fraction from a cracking plant yields a butene-2/n-

butane mixture which is used, for example, in an oligomerisation process for the production
of octene. In the oligomerisation process, however, only a part of the butene-2 mixture is
processed, considerable loss of the butene-2 inevitably occurs. The BUTENEX Process for
the separation of cutene-2 from n-butane offers and economic solution to this problem.

The feedstock is fed into the extractive distillation column (1). The solvent enters the top
section of this column; n-butane flows from the top of the column (1) and after
condensation, is conveyed to the battery limits. The yield mixture of solvent and butene-2
in the distillation column (1) flows from the bottom into the stripper (2), where the butene-
2 is separated from the solvent.
Butene-2 is discharged at the top of the stripper column (2). After condensation, partial
stream is recycled to the top of the column as reflux. The product is conveyed to an
oligomerisation unit.

A butene-2 free solvent is yield at the bottom of the stripper column (2) and after repeated
heat exchange, is returned to the top section of the extractive distillation column (1).

Equipment is provided for recovering traces of solvent from n-butane and for regenerating
the solvent by distillation.

Technical data:
Composition of feedstock
n-Butane 48% wt.
Butene-2 52% wt.

Yields
n-Butane 98.6%wt.
Butene-2 99.0%wt.

Product qualities
Composition of Butene-2
Butene-2 99.0%wt.
n-Butane 1.0%wt.
Solvent < 1ppm

Composition of n-Butane
n-Butane 98.6%wt.
Butene-2 1.4%wt.
Solvent < 1ppm.

Utilities per ton feedstock

Heat requirement 1894x103 [kj] (approx. 452x103 [kcal])
Electric power 22 kWh
Cooling water ( t = 8C) 17 m3
Solvent < 20 g

RECOVERY OF Butene-1 and Butene-2 FROM A C4 HYDROCARBON CUT USING

THE BUTENEX PROCESS

The processing of C4 hydrocarbon fractions from cracking plants yields a butene/butane

mix, from which, for example, butene-1 and butene-2 can be recovered as highly
concentrated products for further processing. A purely distillative separation is only
possible at great expense. The BUTENEX Process with ensuing separation of the butenes
by distillation offers therefore an economic solution to this problem.

The feedstock is fed into the extractive distillation column (1). The solvent enters the top
section of this column; the butane mix flows through the top of the column (1) and after
condensation, is conveyed to the battery limits. The mixture of solvent and butenes yielded
in the extractive distillation column (1) flows from the bottom into the stripper column (2),
where the butenes are separated from the solvent.

The butenes are discharged at the top of the column (2). After condensation, a partial
stream is recycled to the top of the column as reflux. The product is conveyed to the butene
separation unit.

A solvent low in butene content is yielded at the bottom of the column (2) and after heat
exchange, is returned to the top section of the extractive distillation column (1).

Equipment is provided for recovering traces of solvent from the butanes and for
regenerating the solvent by distillation.

The butene mix from the stripper column (2) is fed into the butene separation column (3).
Butene-1 is discharged at the top of the column (3). Following condensation a partial flow
is returned to the top of the column as reflux. The pure butene-1 is conveyed to the battery
limits.

Concentrated butene-2 is yielded at the bottom of the column (3). Following heat exchange
it is conveyed to the battery limits.

Technical data:
Composition of feedstock
Isobutane 25.6% wt.
n-Butane 32.7% wt.
Butene-1 26.6% wt.
Butene-2 15.1% wt.

Yields
Butene-1 95.6%wt.
Butene-2 99.1%wt.
Butanes 98.9% wt.

Product qualities
Composition of Butene-1
n-Butane 0.2%wt.
Butene-1 99.6%wt.
Butene-2 0.2%wt.
Solvent < 1ppm

Composition of Butene-2
n-Butane 3.6%wt.
Butene-1 0.5%wt.
Butene-2 95.9%wt.
Solvent < 1ppm.

Composition of Butanes
Isobutane 43.5%wt.
n-Butane 54.5%wt.
Butene-1 1.8%wt.
Butene-2 0.2%wt.
Solvent < 1ppm.

Utilities per ton feedstock

(including butene separation)
Heat requirement 3.2 GJ (approx. 0.76 [Gcal])
Electric power 22 kWh
Cooling water ( t = 10C) 50 m3
Solvent < 20 g