Solvent mixtures for extractive distillation are described. One solvent mixture consists essentially of: a first solvent having a higher octane-to-benzene relative volatility than sulfolane in a 90% benzene 10% octane feed mixture at 150? C. and 24:1 solvent-to-feed weight ratio; a second solvent having a higher octane-to-benzene relative volatility than sulfolane in a 50% benzene 50% octane feed mixture at 150? C. and 3:1 solvent-to-feed weight ratio; and optionally an additive; wherein the solvent mixture has a higher octane-to-benzene relative volatility than Sulfolane in a combined benzene and octane feed at 125? C. and 3:1 solvent-to-feed weight ratio wherein a benzene weight ratio is higher than 30%. Another solvent mixture consists essentially of: a base solvent selected from the group consisting of sulfolane, N-methyl-pyrrolidone (NMP), N-formylmorpholine (NFM), dimethylformamide (DMF), glycol derivatives, or combinations there along with first and second co-solvents. Methods of extractive distillation are also described.

Solvent mixtures for extractive distillation are described. One solvent mixture consists essentially of: a first solvent having a higher octane-to-benzene relative volatility than sulfolane in a 90% benzene 10% octane feed mixture at 150? C. and 24:1 solvent-to-feed weight ratio; a second solvent having a higher octane-to-benzene relative volatility than sulfolane in a 50% benzene 50% octane feed mixture at 150? C. and 3:1 solvent-to-feed weight ratio; and optionally an additive; wherein the solvent mixture has a higher octane-to-benzene relative volatility than Sulfolane in a combined benzene and octane feed at 125? C. and 3:1 solvent-to-feed weight ratio wherein a benzene weight ratio is higher than 30%. Another solvent mixture consists essentially of: a base solvent selected from the group consisting of sulfolane, N-methyl-pyrrolidone (NMP), N-formylmorpholine (NFM), dimethylformamide (DMF), glycol derivatives, or combinations there along with first and second co-solvents. Methods of extractive distillation are also described.

Systems and processes for hydrotreating, splitting, and extracting a gasoil feed to produce a saturate-rich feedstock for olefin pyrolysis are provided. A gasoil feed is provided to a hydrotreating section to produce an ultralow sulfur distillate (ULSD) stream. The ULSD stream is provided to a splitter section to produce a light distillate stream and a heavy bottom stream. The light distillate stream is provided to an extraction section to produce an aromatic-rich extract phase and a saturate-rich raffinate phase. The raffinate phase is mixed with the heavy bottom stream to produce an olefin pyrolysis feedstock having a reduced BMCI as compared to the gasoil feed stream and the ULSD stream.

Mercury is removed from a mercury-containing hydrocarbon fluid feed by utilizing ionic liquids. The mercury-containing hydrocarbon fluid feed is contacted with a metallate salt immobilized on a solid support material. A hydrocarbon fluid product having a reduced mercury content compared to the mercury-containing fluid feed is separated from the ionic liquid.

Mercury is removed from a mercury-containing hydrocarbon fluid feed by utilizing ionic liquids. The mercury-containing hydrocarbon fluid feed is contacted with a metallate salt immobilized on a solid support material. A hydrocarbon fluid product having a reduced mercury content compared to the mercury-containing fluid feed is separated from the ionic liquid.

Embodiments provide a method and apparatus for upgrading a hydrocarbon feedstock. According to at least one embodiment, the method includes (a) supplying a hydrocarbon feedstock to an oxidation reactor, where the hydrocarbon feedstock is oxidized in the presence of a catalyst under conditions sufficient to selectively oxidize sulfur compounds present in the hydrocarbon feedstock; (b) separating the hydrocarbons and the oxidized sulfur compounds by solvent extraction; (c) collecting a residue stream that includes the oxidized sulfur compounds; (d) supplying the residue stream to a coker to produce coker gases and solid coke; and (e) supplying spent adsorbent including residual oils from the adsorption column to the coker for disposing the spent adsorbent after completion of an adsorption cycle.

Embodiments provide a method and apparatus for upgrading a hydrocarbon feedstock. According to at least one embodiment, the method includes (a) supplying a hydrocarbon feedstock to an oxidation reactor, where the hydrocarbon feedstock is oxidized in the presence of a catalyst under conditions sufficient to selectively oxidize sulfur compounds present in the hydrocarbon feedstock; (b) separating the hydrocarbons and the oxidized sulfur compounds by solvent extraction; (c) collecting a residue stream that includes the oxidized sulfur compounds; (d) supplying the residue stream to a coker to produce coker gases and solid coke; and (e) recycling at least a portion of the volatile component stream to the oxidation reactor to selectively oxidize sulfur compounds in the volatile component stream, the recycled portion of the volatile component stream comprising at least one of light coker gas oils and heavy coker gas oils.

Embodiments provide a method and apparatus for recovering components from a hydrocarbon feedstock. According to at least one embodiment, the method includes supplying a hydrocarbon feedstock to an oxidation reactor, wherein the hydrocarbon feedstock is oxidized in the presence of a catalyst under conditions sufficient to selectively oxidize sulfur compounds and nitrogen compounds present in the hydrocarbon feedstock, separating the hydrocarbons, the oxidized sulfur compounds, and the oxidized nitrogen compounds by solvent extraction, collecting a residue stream that includes the oxidized sulfur compounds and the oxidized nitrogen compound, and supplying the first residue stream to a fluid catalytic cracking unit. The first residue stream is further supplied through a hydrotreater prior to supplying the first residue stream to the fluid catalytic cracking unit.

Embodiments provide a method and apparatus for recovering components from a hydrocarbon feedstock. According to at least one embodiment, the method includes supplying a hydrocarbon feedstock to an oxidation reactor, wherein the hydrocarbon feedstock is oxidized in the presence of a catalyst under conditions sufficient to selectively oxidize sulfur compounds and nitrogen compounds present in the hydrocarbon feedstock, separating the hydrocarbons, the oxidized sulfur compounds, and the oxidized nitrogen compounds by solvent extraction, collecting a residue stream that includes the oxidized sulfur compounds and the oxidized nitrogen compound, supplying the residue stream to a fluid catalytic cracking unit, and recycling liquid products produced by the fluid catalytic cracking unit to the oxidation reactor to selectively oxidize sulfur compounds in the liquid products, the portion of the liquids products including at least one of light cycle oils and heavy cycle oils.

Embodiments provide a method and apparatus for upgrading a hydrocarbon feedstock. According to at least one embodiment, the method includes the steps of (a) supplying a hydrocarbon feedstock to an oxidation reactor, wherein the hydrocarbon feedstock is oxidized in the presence of a catalyst under conditions sufficient to selectively oxidize sulfur and nitrogen compounds present in the hydrocarbon feedstock; (b) separating the hydrocarbons and the oxidized sulfur and nitrogen compounds by solvent extraction; (c) collecting a first residue stream that includes the oxidized sulfur and oxidized nitrogen compounds; (d) supplying the first residue stream to a deasphalting unit; (e) supplying the hydrocarbons to an adsorption column to produce a high purity hydrocarbon product and a second residue stream; and (f) supplying spent adsorbent to the deasphalting unit to remove additional contaminants from the high purity hydrocarbon product in the deasphalting unit.