Extraction of Aromatic Compounds from Heavy Neutral Distillate Lubricating Oils by Using Furfural

Abstract

Abstract Liquid—liquid equilibrium data for the furfural—refined oil system, considered to be pseudoternary, were obtained at different temperatures in the 335–402 K range. Type I isotherms were observed at all temperatures for the two crude oils used: Kirkuk and Light Arabia. Tie-line compositions were correlated by the reduced Eisen—Joffe equation. Reliability of data was ascertained through Othmer—Tobias plots. The binodal curves and the tie-lines were predicted using the NRTL model with an average error lower than 5%. The viability of the simulation of the industrial extraction process using our experimental data has been proved.