Patent ID: 10647641

Abstract:
Extractive agent compounds are disclosed, with exemplary compounds having Formula (I): wherein Ra and Rb are independently selected from the group consisting of an oxygen radical, a hydrogen radical, and a hydrocarbyl radical having from about 1 to about 20 carbon atoms, and wherein R2-R6 are independently selected from the group consisting of halo, a hydrogen radical, and a hydrocarbyl radical having from about 1 to about 20 carbon atoms, and further wherein at least two of R2-R6 are halo. Also disclosed are extractive distillation processes, comprising distilling a liquid mixture comprising ethylbenzene, a further C8 aromatic compound, and an extractive agent compound as described herein. The extractive agent contributes to improved separability of ethylbenzene from the further C8 aromatic compound. The separability may be quantified in terms of increasing relative volatility of ethylbenzene to the further C8 aromatic compound or may alternatively be quantified in terms of a competitive factor, D, as described herein.