MX SorbexTM

Aromatics
Aromatics

Application
The MX Sorbex process, UOPs latest commercial Sorbex application, recovers meta-xylene from mixed xylene feedstocks. Mixed xylenes refers to a mixture of C8 aromatic isomers including ethyl benzene, para-xylene, meta-xylene, and ortho-xylene. These compounds boil so closely together that separating them by conventional distillation is not practical. World meta-xylene production was less than 170,000 metric tons per annum (MTA) in 1995, but increased to approximately 450,000 MTA by 2006. Prior to 1995 production of meta-xylene was based on an HF-BF3 extraction system. Units were built in the United States, Italy and Japan in the late 1960s and early 1970s based on this technology. Since 1995, all new meta-xylene capacity has used MX Sorbex technology. The MX Sorbex process has become the new industry standard due to its reduced environmental impact, inherent safety, and improved economics. The MX Sorbex process is highly flexible and can process a variety of C8 aromatic feeds, including ParexTM raffinate or mixed xylenes derived from reformate, hydrotreated pyrolysis gasoline, or a TatorayTM unit. The MX Sorbex process can be integrated into an existing UOP aromatics complex that includes a Parex unit, as shown in the attached diagram. The feed to the MX Sorbex unit would, in that case, typically be the Parex unit raffinate product stream, which is depleted of paraxylene and thus rich in meta-xylene. The MX Sorbex unit can easily produce meta-xylene at 99.5 wt-% purity at 95 wt-% recovery per pass. MX Sorbex technology has been developed to meet increased demand for Purified Isophthalic Acid (PIA) and meta-xylene diamine (MXDA). The growth in demand for PIA is linked to the copolymer requirements for PET bottle resin applications, a market that is expanding at up to 20% per year.

UOP Aromatics Complex

Para-Xylene
Parex Mixed Xylenes MX Sorbex

Meta-Xylene
Light Ends

Xylene Splitter
Isomar A9+

Deheptanizer Column

chromatography, the continuous Sorbex process simulates a moving bed of adsorbent with continuous counter-current flow of a liquid feed over a solid bed of adsorbent. Feed and products enter and leave the adsorbent bed continuously, at nearly constant compositions. To facilitate a simulated moving bed, the adsorbent is divided into multiple discreet beds within the adsorbent chambers. Each bed has an associated bedline to allow liquid to be routed to or from the adsorbent chambers. At any given time, only four of the bed lines are active, carrying the net streams into and out of the adsorbent chamber. A rotary valve is used to periodically advance the positions of the liquid feed and withdrawal points as the composition profile moves down the chamber. A pump provides the liquid circulation from the bottom of the second adsorbent chamber to the top of the first. In this way, the two adsorbent chambers function as a single continuous loop of adsorbent beds. Additional details on Sorbex technology are given in the Understanding Sorbex technical data sheet. The MX Sorbex process operates with a solid zeolitic adsorbent distributed in multiple beds in the adsorption chambers. Toluene is used as desorbent to recover the adsorbed purified meta-xylene. All process streams are in the liquid phase. Fresh feed is raised to the appropriate process temperature by conventional heat exchange, filtered, and pumped to the adsorbent chambers via the rotary valve. Meta-xylene is separated from the feed in the adsorbent chambers and leaves the adsorbent section in the extract line via the rotary valve. The dilute extract is then fractionated in the extract column to produce 99.5 wt-% meta-xylene as the bottoms product. The desorbent is taken overhead and recirculated back to the adsorbent section of the unit. All the other components present in the feed are rejected in the adsorbent

Process description
The MX Sorbex process is part of UOPs family of Sorbex adsorptive separation processes. Sorbex technology is UOPs innovative adsorptive separation method for highly efficient and selective recovery of high purity chemicals that cannot be separated by conventional fractionation. Unlike conventional batch

MX Sorbex

MX Sorbex Process
Adsorbent Chambers

Reliable operation - the five commercial units have shown excellent on stream performance. The Sorbex technology relies on a rugged rotary valve design which has proven itself in over 156 installations.

Rotary Valve

Economics
Extract

Feed Line Flush Raffinate

Typical performance data for an MX Sorbex process unit producing 50,000 MTA of meta-xylene with Parex unit raffinate as feed is shown below. This example assumes the MX Sorbex unit is integrated within an existing UOP aromatics complex with a Parex unit.
Extract Column

Raffinate Column

Feed, Kmta C8 Aromatics Distribution Meta-xylene Ortho-xylene Ethylbenzene Para-xylene Product Purity, wt-% Rate, KMTA Recovery, wt-% Utility Consumption Electricity, KW Cooling water, m3/hr Fuel fired, mmkcal/hr

77.1 wt-% 68 3.5 25.2 3.0 99.5 50 95 338 128 15

Desorbent Raffinate to Storage or Isomerization

m-Xylene Product

chambers and are removed through the raffinate line via the rotary valve. The dilute raffinate is fractionated in the raffinate column to recover desorbent. As in the extract column, the desorbent is taken overhead and recirculated back to the adsorbent section.

Features and benefits

Environmentally friendly - The MX Sorbex adsorptive separation mechanism does not use hydrofluoric acid to purify the meta-xylene product. For this reason, the MX Sorbex has much less environmental impact than HF-BF3 technology . Carbon steel metallurgy and low equipment count The mild MX Sorbex process conditions allow for safe, energy efficient designs. High recovery and purity - the highly selective adsorbent can produce meta-xylene with a 99.5+ wt-% purity at 95% recovery per pass. This allows efficient production of a high purity product. Long adsorbent life the first MX Sorbex units came on-line in 1998 and are still operating with the original loads of adsorbent in 2006.

Estimated Erected Cost, US$ MM 32 (2006 US Gulf cost basis, Inside battery limits only) As of 2006 there are five MX Sorbex units in operation and one unit in construction. Sizes range from 35- 100 KMTA product. These units represent an aggregate production of 335,000 MTA of meta-xylene, which exceeds the total existing HF-BF3 technology installed nameplate capacity.

For more information

MX Sorbex technology services are available upon request. For more information, contact your local UOP representative or our Des Plaines sales office: e-mail: info@uop.com fax: +1-847-391-2253 phone: +1-847-391-2000

UOP LLC 25 East Algonquin Road Des Plaines, IL 60017-5017 U.S.A. www.uop.com

2006 UOP LLC. All rights reserved. The information in this document should not be construed as a representation for which UOP assumes legal responsibility, or an authorization or recommendation to practice a patented invention without a license. UOP 4680-9 1106AR0X