Patent ID: 8362313

Claim:
A process for recovering styrene and maintaining performance of an extractive solvent in a system for recovery of styrene from a styrene-rich feedstock, said process comprising the steps of: (a) introducing the styrene-rich feedstock to an extractive distillation column; (b) removing a styrene-rich stream from the extractive distillation column; wherein the styrene-rich stream comprises styrene and the extractive solvent; (c) introducing the styrene-rich stream to a solvent recovery column; (d) removing a styrene-lean stream from the solvent recovery column; wherein an amount of styrene in the styrene-lean stream is less than an amount of styrene in the styrene-rich stream; (e) separating a portion of the styrene-lean stream; (f) treating the portion of the styrene-lean stream with an organic solvent to form a treated extractive solvent; and, (g) recycling the treated extractive solvent.