Ethylbenzene can be separated from a C8 aromatics mixture containing ethylbenzene and a close boiling compound by extractive distillation using an extractive agent comprising a mixture of a chlorinated aromatic compound and another compound selected from furandione derivatives and organic nitriles.

Process for the distillative separation of ethylbenzene from a mixture comprising ethylbenzene and at least one other C8 aromatic compound, comprising distilling said mixture in a distillation column in the presence of an extractive solvent, characterized in that the distillation column is operated at a sub-atmospheric pressure.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method in which, when a steam ejector is used as a decompression apparatus for a vacuum distillation process for an easily polymerizable compound, the steam ejector is prevented from being occluded due to polymerization of the easily polymerizable compound. Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing an acrylic acid that is an easily polymerizable compound, using the above-described method. The above object is accomplished by a method for manufacturing an acrylic acid, which comprises a step of executing vacuum distillation, using a steam ejector, on an acrylic acid resulting from gas-phase catalytic oxidation using propane, propylene, or acrolein as a material, wherein the vacuum distillation step includes a step of heating an outer surface of the steam ejector.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method in which, when a steam ejector is used as a decompression apparatus for a vacuum distillation process for an easily polymerizable compound, the steam ejector is prevented from being occluded due to polymerization of the easily polymerizable compound. Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing an acrylic acid that is an easily polymerizable compound, using the above-described method. The above object is accomplished by a method for manufacturing an acrylic acid, which comprises a step of executing vacuum distillation, using a steam ejector, on an acrylic acid resulting from gas-phase catalytic oxidation using propane, propylene, or acrolein as a material, wherein the vacuum distillation step includes a step of heating an outer surface of the steam ejector.

The present invention provides a process for making a silica masterbatch that contains hydrophobated silica, solution-made rubber and emulsion-made rubber. Hydrophobated silica is mixed into a latex emulsion. Solution-rubber crumb in an aqueous suspension is mixed into the latex emulsion, which is coagulated, and a crumb is recovered, further homogenized, dried and baled to yield the silica masterbatch. A well-dispersed mixture of hydrophobated silica and emulsion-made rubber is added into a steam distillation step of a solution-rubber process from which a silica masterbatch is recovered. The emulsion-made rubber can be omitted to make a silica masterbatch of solution rubber and silica without emulsion rubber. The silica masterbatch has physical properties similar to those found in a comparable dry-mixed composition, but the silica masterbatch can be incorporated more easily and less expensively into tires and other rubber products than the dry-mixed composition.

A process for treating effluent streams in a renewable transportation fuel production process is described. One or more of the sour water stream and an acid gas stream are treated directly in thermal oxidation section. The process allows the elimination or size reduction of a sour water stripper unit, waste water treatment plant, and sulfur recovery unit.

The process can include transferring heat from a light product in a first heat exchange stage to produce a cooled product and a first medium pressure steam and separating a steam cracker quench oil therefrom. Heat can be transferred from the steam cracker quench oil in a second heat exchange stage to produce a first cooled quench oil and a second medium pressure steam. Heat can be transferred from at least a portion of the first cooled quench oil in a third heat exchange stage to produce a second cooled quench oil and low pressure steam. A total heat duty generated in the first heat exchange stage, the second heat exchange stage, and the third heat exchange stage can be equal to Q.sub.T1 and a heat duty generated in the first heat exchange stage and the second heat exchange stage can be ≥0.5Q.sub.T1 joules/sec.

A microfluidic chip for steam distillation includes a chip body and a condenser. The chip body includes a steam inlet and a steam outlet. The steam inlet is connected to the steam outlet by a micro channel. The micro channel includes a first channel, a second channel, and a receiving space having an enlarged cross sectional area larger than a cross sectional area of each of the first and second channels. The first channel connects the steam inlet with the receiving space. The second channel windingly connects the steam outlet with the receiving space. The condenser includes a condensing channel inlet and a condensing channel outlet. The condenser further includes a condensing channel windingly connecting the condensing channel inlet with the condensing channel outlet. The steam outlet 11b intercommunicates with the condensing channel inlet.

A microfluidic chip for steam distillation includes a chip body and a condenser. The chip body includes a steam inlet and a steam outlet. The steam inlet is connected to the steam outlet by a micro channel. The micro channel includes a first channel, a second channel, and a receiving space having an enlarged cross sectional area larger than a cross sectional area of each of the first and second channels. The first channel connects the steam inlet with the receiving space. The second channel windingly connects the steam outlet with the receiving space. The condenser includes a condensing channel inlet and a condensing channel outlet. The condenser further includes a condensing channel windingly connecting the condensing channel inlet with the condensing channel outlet. The steam outlet 11b intercommunicates with the condensing channel inlet.

An apparatus and a method for plant extraction are disclosed. The apparatus of the present invention comprises an extraction module, a separating module and a reservoir. The method essentially includes plant material preparing, decarboxylating, active components extracting and separating. By using liquid tetrafluoroethane as the solvent in the apparatus of the present invention, the active components of the plant material are efficiently extracted under low pressure extraction and high pressure extraction conditions.