Highly efficient separation of benzene + cyclohexane mixtures by extraction combined extractive distillation using imidazolium-based dicationic ionic liquids

Benzene (BEN) and cyclohexane (CYH), which have very close boiling points and a binary azeotrope, are the most difficult binary components in the separation of aromatic and non-aromatic hydrocarbons. This study further explored the separation mechanism and industrial application prospects of BEN ​+ ...

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Main Authors: Wanxiang Zhang, Wuji Zhao, Shuhang Ren, Yucui Hou, Weize Wu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: KeAi Communications Co. Ltd. 2023-09-01
Series:Green Chemical Engineering
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666952822000589
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author Wanxiang Zhang
Wuji Zhao
Shuhang Ren
Yucui Hou
Weize Wu
author_facet Wanxiang Zhang
Wuji Zhao
Shuhang Ren
Yucui Hou
Weize Wu
author_sort Wanxiang Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Benzene (BEN) and cyclohexane (CYH), which have very close boiling points and a binary azeotrope, are the most difficult binary components in the separation of aromatic and non-aromatic hydrocarbons. This study further explored the separation mechanism and industrial application prospects of BEN ​+ ​CYH mixtures separated by a dicationic ionic liquid (DIL) [C5(MIM)2][NTf2]2 based on experimental research. The calculation results of the Conductor-like Screening model Segment Activity Coefficient (COSMO-SAC) model show that selectivity and solvent capacity of the DIL are significantly improved. The effects of different anions and cations on the microstructure distribution and diffusion behavior of BEN ​+ ​CYH system were investigated by quantum chemistry (QC) calculations and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The results indicate that the anion [NTf2]− has low polarity, uniform charge distribution, and a dual role of hydrogen bonding and π-π bonding, and the cation [C5(MIM)2]2+ has stronger interaction with BEN and higher selectivity than conventional cations. The liquid-liquid extraction and extractive distillation (LLE-ED) process using an optimized 65 mol/mol DIL ​+ ​35 mol/mol H2O mixed solution as the extractant was proposed, which solved the problem of low product purity in the LLE process and high energy consumption in the ED process. Under the best operating conditions, the purity of CYH product was 99.9%, the purity of BEN product was 99.6%, the recovery rate of BEN reached 99.9%, and the recovery rate of DIL reached 99.9%. The heat-integrated LLE-ED process reduced total annual cost by 21.6%, and reduced CO2 emissions by 48.0%, which has broad industrial application prospects.
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spelling doaj.art-f7f2b47d650942b5b910fa9e63d5f67e2023-09-08T04:34:06ZengKeAi Communications Co. Ltd.Green Chemical Engineering2666-95282023-09-0143312323Highly efficient separation of benzene + cyclohexane mixtures by extraction combined extractive distillation using imidazolium-based dicationic ionic liquidsWanxiang Zhang0Wuji Zhao1Shuhang Ren2Yucui Hou3Weize Wu4State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, ChinaDepartment of Chemistry, Taiyuan Normal University, Shanxi, 030619, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China; Corresponding author.Benzene (BEN) and cyclohexane (CYH), which have very close boiling points and a binary azeotrope, are the most difficult binary components in the separation of aromatic and non-aromatic hydrocarbons. This study further explored the separation mechanism and industrial application prospects of BEN ​+ ​CYH mixtures separated by a dicationic ionic liquid (DIL) [C5(MIM)2][NTf2]2 based on experimental research. The calculation results of the Conductor-like Screening model Segment Activity Coefficient (COSMO-SAC) model show that selectivity and solvent capacity of the DIL are significantly improved. The effects of different anions and cations on the microstructure distribution and diffusion behavior of BEN ​+ ​CYH system were investigated by quantum chemistry (QC) calculations and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The results indicate that the anion [NTf2]− has low polarity, uniform charge distribution, and a dual role of hydrogen bonding and π-π bonding, and the cation [C5(MIM)2]2+ has stronger interaction with BEN and higher selectivity than conventional cations. The liquid-liquid extraction and extractive distillation (LLE-ED) process using an optimized 65 mol/mol DIL ​+ ​35 mol/mol H2O mixed solution as the extractant was proposed, which solved the problem of low product purity in the LLE process and high energy consumption in the ED process. Under the best operating conditions, the purity of CYH product was 99.9%, the purity of BEN product was 99.6%, the recovery rate of BEN reached 99.9%, and the recovery rate of DIL reached 99.9%. The heat-integrated LLE-ED process reduced total annual cost by 21.6%, and reduced CO2 emissions by 48.0%, which has broad industrial application prospects.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666952822000589Dicationic ionic liquidsBenzene + cyclohexane mixtureLLE-ED processQuantum chemical calculationMolecular dynamics simulation
spellingShingle Wanxiang Zhang
Wuji Zhao
Shuhang Ren
Yucui Hou
Weize Wu
Highly efficient separation of benzene + cyclohexane mixtures by extraction combined extractive distillation using imidazolium-based dicationic ionic liquids
Green Chemical Engineering
Dicationic ionic liquids
Benzene + cyclohexane mixture
LLE-ED process
Quantum chemical calculation
Molecular dynamics simulation
title Highly efficient separation of benzene + cyclohexane mixtures by extraction combined extractive distillation using imidazolium-based dicationic ionic liquids
title_full Highly efficient separation of benzene + cyclohexane mixtures by extraction combined extractive distillation using imidazolium-based dicationic ionic liquids
title_fullStr Highly efficient separation of benzene + cyclohexane mixtures by extraction combined extractive distillation using imidazolium-based dicationic ionic liquids
title_full_unstemmed Highly efficient separation of benzene + cyclohexane mixtures by extraction combined extractive distillation using imidazolium-based dicationic ionic liquids
title_short Highly efficient separation of benzene + cyclohexane mixtures by extraction combined extractive distillation using imidazolium-based dicationic ionic liquids
title_sort highly efficient separation of benzene cyclohexane mixtures by extraction combined extractive distillation using imidazolium based dicationic ionic liquids
topic Dicationic ionic liquids
Benzene + cyclohexane mixture
LLE-ED process
Quantum chemical calculation
Molecular dynamics simulation
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666952822000589
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AT shuhangren highlyefficientseparationofbenzenecyclohexanemixturesbyextractioncombinedextractivedistillationusingimidazoliumbaseddicationicionicliquids
AT yucuihou highlyefficientseparationofbenzenecyclohexanemixturesbyextractioncombinedextractivedistillationusingimidazoliumbaseddicationicionicliquids
AT weizewu highlyefficientseparationofbenzenecyclohexanemixturesbyextractioncombinedextractivedistillationusingimidazoliumbaseddicationicionicliquids