Solvent Extraction Reduces Mutagenicity in Petroleum Aromatic Extracts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Petroleum refineries face high costs and inefficiencies due to the need for repeated processing and storage of aromatic extracts to reduce mutagenic compounds, which are produced during oil refining and must meet stringent regulatory standards to avoid being discarded as toxic waste.
Innovation Solution
A system and method involving the mixing of aromatic extracts with solvents like acetone and acetonitrile to separate and reduce mutagenic compounds, followed by heating to evaporate the solvents and recover usable petroleum aromatic extracts through hydroprocessing, ensuring compliance with regulatory mutagenicity indices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If aromatic extracts are stored and reprocessed multiple times to reduce mutagenic compounds, then mutagenicity levels decrease, but production costs increase and productivity decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts mutagenic compounds from aromatic extracts by adding a solvent that selectively dissolves these compounds. The mixture is then filtered to remove the dissolved mutagenic compounds, achieving rapid reduction of mutagenicity index without requiring multiple reprocessing cycles, thereby maintaining high productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a solvent as an intermediary substance that facilitates the separation of mutagenic compounds from aromatic extracts. The solvent temporarily combines with mutagenic compounds to form a separable mixture, enabling efficient removal while preserving the aromatic extract quality
2Reliability
If aromatic extracts are stored pending test results, then regulatory compliance can be verified, but storage costs and time losses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies mutagenicity reduction treatment during the production process itself, before the aromatic extracts need to be stored for testing. By incorporating the treatment step into the production line, the product achieves compliant mutagenicity levels prior to storage, eliminating the need for prolonged storage and repeated processing cycles
3Object-affected harmful factors
If mutagenic compounds are removed through traditional reprocessing methods, then safety standards are met, but material must pass through refinery equipment multiple times reducing productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes mutagenic compounds through a single extraction and filtration operation that can be integrated into the existing production line. This eliminates the need for material to pass through refinery equipment multiple times, reducing processing sequence complexity while effectively lowering mutagenic compound levels to meet safety standards
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach effectively reduces mutagenicity indices in both residual and distillate aromatic extracts, allowing them to meet safety standards, thereby reducing production costs and increasing productivity by enabling the reuse of previously banned or restricted oils.
Implementation Method 1
add a solvent, such as a mixture of acetone and acetonitrile, to dissolve the mutagenic compounds
Implementation Method 2
heat the mixture to evaporate the solvent
Data Source
AI summary
System and method for reducing mutagen levels contained within a volume of petroleum aromatic extracts. The petroleum aromatic extracts are mixed with at least one solvent. This produces a mixture. Once mixed, some of the petroleum aromatic extracts dissolve. Others settle in the mixture. The petroleum aromatic extracts that have settled on the mixture are removed from the mixture and are ready for use. The mixture is heated to evaporate the solvent from the mixture. The evaporated solvent can be recaptured and reused. The residuum of the mixture contains petroleum aromatic extracts that can be partially recovered using traditional hydroprocessing techniques.