Aromatic contents in Cu-SX diluent, a Mith

1. Guillermo Stephens, David Belmar, Sergio Valladares
The Mith of Aromatics Contents in Metallurgical
Grade Kerosenes

2. Frequently asked question by the potential users
of metallurgical kerosenes:
• What is the % of aromatics in the solvent?

3. Commonly associated concepts to the presence
of aromatics in metallurgical kerosenes
• High evaporation rate
• Presence of harmful compounds, like Benzene, Toluene, and
Xylene

4. Requisites of a Metallurgical Grade
Kerosene
• High Flash Point
• Insoluble in water
• Low viscosity
• Relatively low density
• Capable of maitaining the copper – oxime complex in solution
• Fast phase disengagement
• Available at relatively low cost

5. Paradox
Benzene
The hydroxyoximes molecules are aromatic compounds

6. Benefits of the metallurgical solvents which
contain aromatics
• Greater capacity to maintain the copper – oxime complex in
solution at high reagent concentrations.
• Protects the extractant from Nitration reaction.

7. Evaporation rate v/s aromatics contents
0.000
0.100
0.200
0.300
0.400
0.500
0.600
0.700
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
EvaporationKg/day*m2
Days
Sample A
Sample B
Sample C
Sample D
Sample E

8. Evaporation rate v/s Initial Boiling Point
Days

9. Comparative evaporation rates of available solvents
Days

10. SX Diluentsmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Composition:
% by weight
• Paraffines and Isoparaffines
• Cycloparaffines, Naphthenics 75 - 99.5
• Aromatics 0.5 - 25
. Distillation Range 200°C – 260°C
. Flash Point > 75°C
. Density at 20 °C 0.800 – 0.820 gr/cc

11. Hydrocarbon Compound.
ALKANES ALKENES ALKINES NAPHTENES
(Cycloalkanes)
ALIPHATICS AROMATICS
HYDROCARBONS
C
x
H
y
• Products obtained from oil refining

12. Benzene Toluene Xylene ( o-m-p)
C6H6 C7H8 C8H10
BTX Aromatics
Aromatic Compounds
CH3

13. Solvex Specification

14. 0°C 50°C 150°C100°C 200°C 300°C250°C 350°C 450°C400°C 500+°C
LPG FUEL OILKEROSENE
NAFTA DIESEL
BITUMEN
150°C 205°C 260°C 300°C
(572°F)
SOLVEX M
BTX
Oil Refining Fractions
70°
C

15. Solvex Gas Chromatograph
BTX

16. Conclusions
• Aromatic compounds have a marginal influence on the
evaporation rate of a metallurgical kerosene.
• The evaporation rate is strongly dependent on the Initial
Boiling Temperature at which the process starts.
• The presence of the BTX compounds in Solvex is ruled
out due to its high IBP (205°C).

17. GRACIAS
THANK YOU