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Ionic Liquids for Better Separation Processes pp 39–65Cite as

Ionic Liquids for Extraction Processes in Refinery-Related Applications

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Part of the book series: Green Chemistry and Sustainable Technology ((GCST))

Abstract

Ionic liquids are being investigated to improve many of the petrochemical industry stages, ranging from the extraction of crude oil from wells to the obtaining of added value products. The goal is to get more efficient, safe and environmentally benign processes. In this chapter, the possible role of ionic liquids to improve the extraction units in refinery-related applications is considered. These salts are being tested to improve the current separation processes of refineries (deasphalting, metal removal, aromatics extraction, etc.) or as alternatives to other processes (desulfurisation, denitrogenation, etc.). The most recent studies are considering the possibility of using ionic liquids for enhanced oil recovery, for instance, the recovery of bitumen from oil sands or the use of surfactant ionic liquids in chemical oil recovery. Most of the studies consist, at this moment, of only theoretical research. However, it is expected that they become an industrial reality, as it has been the case with the Hycapure-Hg process for mercury removal from natural gas.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Enxeñaría Química, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, E-15782, Santiago de Compostela, Spain

    Ana Soto

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  1. Ana Soto
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Correspondence to Ana Soto .

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  1. Departamento de Enxeñería Química, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela Departamento de Enxeñería Química, Santiago de Compostela, Spain

    Héctor Rodríguez

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Soto, A. (2016). Ionic Liquids for Extraction Processes in Refinery-Related Applications. In: Rodríguez, H. (eds) Ionic Liquids for Better Separation Processes. Green Chemistry and Sustainable Technology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-48520-0_3

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