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Last updated January 31, 2026
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C4 hydrocarbon extractive distillation: BASFRecent Research Landscape

High energy costs and low purity in C4 separation reduce the profitability of downstream polymer production. These innovations utilize specific distillation and extractive sequences to isolate high-purity isobutene.

What technical problems is BASF addressing in C4 hydrocarbon extractive distillation?

Michael adduct accumulation

(21)evidences

Manual or open-loop control in esterification leads to thermal instability and inconsistent conversion rates. Precise closed-loop sensing prevents runaway reactions and ensures steady-state throughput.

Low product recovery yield

(12)evidences

Inefficient separation of isoprenol from complex reaction mixtures leads to significant yield loss and contamination. Overcoming this limitation ensures the economic viability of bio-based olefin production.

Low isobutene separation purity

(12)evidences

Presence of closely boiling isomers and contaminants prevents high-purity monomer recovery. Eliminating these impurities is necessary to prevent downstream polymerization inhibition and product degradation.

Residual mother liquor contamination

(2)evidences

Presence of residual byproducts in crude chemical streams prevents meeting high-purity industrial specifications. Removing these contaminants ensures downstream polymer grade quality and process efficiency.