Method of producing mineral oils based on hydrocarbon distillates

Abstract

A process for producing a purified aliphatic product from an aromatic-containing feedstock is disclosed.

1 . A process for producing mineral oil from a light hydrocarbon feedstock, in which the process comprises the steps of
 (a) Contacting the light hydrocarbon feedstock with an extraction solvent;   (b) Separating a mineral oil phase from the extract phase;   (c) Contacting the extract phase with water to form a wetted solvent phase and an aromatic phase;   (d) Separating the wetted solvent phase from the aromatic phase; and   (e) Distilling the purified wetted solvent to recover regenerated solvent and regenerated water,   (f) Contacting the aromatic phase of step (d) with the regenerated water and contacting the mineral oil phase of step (b) with the regenerated water to remove solvent traces from the aromatic phase of step (d) and the mineral oil phase of step (b);   
     wherein:
 (g) the solvent comprises up to 20% propylene carbonate in N-methyl pyrrolidone. 
 
   
   
       2 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the process further comprises the steps of:
 h) Contacting the aromatic phase of step (d) with regenerated water of step (e) to provide a purified aromatic phase and water with solvent traces;   i) Contacting the wetted solvent phase of step (d) with the purified aromatic phase of step (h) to provide a partially purified wetted solvent and an aromatic phase; and   j) Contacting the partially purified wetted solvent of step (i) with the light hydrocarbon feedstock to provide a purified wetted solvent and a modified feedstock.   
   
   
       3 . The process of  claim 2 , wherein the water with solvent traces from step (h) is purified with reverse osmosis to remove solvent traces prior to contacting the aromatic phase of step (d) and the mineral oil phase of step (b). 
   
   
       4 . The process of  claim 3 , wherein the purified wetted solvent of step (j) is further treated by nano-filtration.