Methods and systems are provided herein utilizing a membrane cascade to separate a hydrocarbon feed into boiling point fractions. Also provided herein are methods for selecting membranes for said cascades to achieve the desired boiling point fraction separation.

Provided in one embodiment is a continuous process for converting waste plastic into recycle for polyethylene polymerization. The process comprises selecting waste plastics containing polyethylene and/or polypropylene, and passing the waste plastics through a pyrolysis reactor to thermally crack at least a portion of the polyolefin waste and produce a pyrolyzed effluent. The pyrolyzed effluent is separated into offgas, a pyrolysis oil and optionally wax comprising a naphtha/diesel and heavy fraction, and char. The pyrolysis oil is passed to a refinery FCC unit from which a liquid petroleum gas C.sub.3 olefin/paraffin mixture fraction is recovered, as well as a C.sub.4 olefin/paraffin mixture fraction. The liquid petroleum gas C.sub.3 olefin/paraffin mixture fraction is passed to a steam cracker for ethylene production. The C.sub.4 olefin/paraffin mixture fraction is passed to a refinery alkylation unit, from which a n-butane and naphtha feed for a stream cracker to produce ethylene is recovered.

Provided in one embodiment is a continuous process for converting waste plastic into recycle for polyethylene polymerization. The process comprises selecting waste plastics containing polyethylene and/or polypropylene, and passing the waste plastics through a pyrolysis reactor to thermally crack at least a portion of the polyolefin waste and produce a pyrolyzed effluent. The pyrolyzed effluent is separated into offgas, a pyrolysis oil and optionally pyrolysis wax comprising a naphtha/diesel fraction and heavy fraction, and char. The pyrolysis oil and wax is passed to a refinery FCC feed pretreater unit. A heavy fraction is recovered and sent to a refinery FCC unit, from which a C.sub.3 olefin/paraffin mixture fraction is recovered, which is passed to a steam cracker for ethylene production. In another embodiment, a propane fraction (C.sub.3) is recovered from a propane/propylene splitter and passed to the steam cracker.

A method for thermal processing and catalytic cracking of a biomass to effect distillate oil recovery can include, particle size reduction. slurrying the biomass with a carrier fluid to create a reaction mixture, slurrying a catalyst with a carrier fluid to create a catalyst slurry, heating the reaction mixture and/or the catalyst slurry, and depolymerizing the reaction mixture with the catalyst. The reaction mixture can undergo distillation and fractionation to produce distillate fractions that include naphtha, kerosene, and diesel. In some embodiments, thermal processing and catalytic cracking includes vaporization of the biomass followed by distillation and fractionation. In some embodiments, a resulting distillate can be used as a carrier fluid. In some embodiments, the method can include desulfurization, dehydration, and/or decontamination.

An apparatus and a method for removing salts from a liquid are described. A first liquid containing at least one salt is mixed with magnetic composite particles. A subsequent separation of the particles from the liquid is achieved using an electromagnetic source.

The invention relates to a process for separating a component mixture (K) comprising hydrogen, methane, hydrocarbons having two carbon atoms and hydrocarbons having three or more carbon atoms, wherein in a deethanization at least a portion of the component mixture (K) is subjected to a first partial condensation by cooling from a first temperature level to a second temperature level at a first pressure level to obtain a first gas fraction (G1) and a first liquid fraction (C1), at least a portion of the first gas fraction (G1) is subjected to a second partial condensation by cooling from the second temperature level to a third temperature level at the first pressure level to obtain a second gas fraction (G4) and a second liquid fraction (C2), and at least a portion of the first liquid fraction (C1) and at least a portion of the second liquid fraction (C2) are subjected to a rectification to obtain a third gas fraction (G3) and a third liquid fraction (C3+). The first liquid fraction (C1) or its part subjected to the rectification and the second liquid fraction (C2) or its part subjected to the rectification are expanded to a second pressure level and the rectification is carried out at the second pressure level, the first pressure level being 25 to 35 bar and the second pressure level being 14 to 17 bar. An overhead gas formed during the rectification is cooled to −25 to −35° C. and partially condensed, wherein a condensed portion of the overhead gas is used partially or completely as a reflux in the rectification and an uncondensed portion of the overhead gas is provided partially or completely as the third gas fraction (G3). The present invention likewise provides a corresponding plant (100, 200).

A process for separating a component mixture comprising essentially hydrocarbons having two or two or more carbon atoms, methane and hydrogen using a distillation apparatus (10) is proposed. Fluid (a, c, e, g, i) from the component mixture is cooled stepwise to a first pressure level, with separation of first condensates (b, d, f, h, j) out of the fluid (a, c, e, g, i) in each case. Fluid (k) from the component mixture that remains in gaseous form thereafter is expanded to a second pressure level in an expander, giving a second condensate (I). Fluid from the first condensates (b, d, f, h, j) is expanded from the first pressure level to the second pressure level and fed together with the fluid from the second condensates into the distillation apparatus (10) which is being operated at the second pressure level. The present invention likewise provides a corresponding separation apparatus.

A process for hydrocracking a hydrocarbon feed is provided. The process comprises hydrocracking the hydrocarbon feed to produce a first hydrocracking product stream, separating the first hydrocracking product stream to form a gas stream and a liquid stream, hydrocracking the liquid stream to produce a second hydrocracking product stream, separating the second hydrocracking product stream to form a first light stream and a first heavy stream comprising benzene, toluene, xylene, C.sub.9+ hydrocarbon, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing, purifying the gas stream to form a purified gas stream, and separating the purified gas stream to form at least two of a hydrogen stream, C.sub.1 stream, C.sub.2 stream, C.sub.3 stream, C.sub.4 stream, C.sub.5+ stream, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing.

A method for thermal processing and catalytic cracking of a biomass to effect distillate oil recovery can include, particle size reduction. slurrying the biomass with a carrier fluid to create a reaction mixture, slurrying a catalyst with a carrier fluid to create a catalyst slurry, heating the reaction mixture and/or the catalyst slurry, and depolymerizing the reaction mixture with the catalyst. The reaction mixture can undergo distillation and fractionation to produce distillate fractions that include naphtha, kerosene, and diesel. In some embodiments, thermal processing and catalytic cracking includes vaporization of the biomass followed by distillation and fractionation. In some embodiments, a resulting distillate can be used as a carrier fluid. In some embodiments, the method can include desulfurization, dehydration, and/or decontamination.

A method for thermal processing and catalytic cracking of a biomass to effect distillate oil recovery can include, particle size reduction. slurrying the biomass with a carrier fluid to create a reaction mixture, slurrying a catalyst with a carrier fluid to create a catalyst slurry, heating the reaction mixture and/or the catalyst slurry, and depolymerizing the reaction mixture with the catalyst. The reaction mixture can undergo distillation and fractionation to produce distillate fractions that include naphtha, kerosene, and diesel. In some embodiments, thermal processing and catalytic cracking includes vaporization of the biomass followed by distillation and fractionation. In some embodiments, a resulting distillate can be used as a carrier fluid. In some embodiments, the method can include desulfurization, dehydration, and/or decontamination.