Raffinate is obtained from ethylene and propylene process in a cracker via butadiene (BD) production. Typically it is a multi-component mixture that can contain paraffin, olefins, cycloalkanes, and aromatics. Depending on how many of the dominant hydrocarbons are presented, there are C4, C5, and C6 raffinites. Raffinites, which is also known as Crude C4, Raffinate 1 or Raffinate 2 and mixed C4s, are usually a by-product of olefins and aromatic units. If raffinite is produced from an aromatic unit, it is called aromatic raffinite to determine whether its constituents contain BTX.
Raffinate 1, remaining when butadiene is extracted from a lower olefin stream, is used in the manufacture of fuel components and polymers, such as:
- Poly-isobutylene
- Butyl rubber
- Methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE)
- Di-isobutylene
- alkylate gasoline
Raffinate 2 is produced from Raffinate 1 when iso-butenes have been extracted. It is used in the manufacture of:
- Secondary butyl alcohol (SBA)
- Methyl ethyl ketone (MEK)
| Raffinate | |||
| PROPERTIES | UNIT | UNIT | TEST METHOD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density @ 15.56 °C | Kg/ m3 | 790 min | ASTM D 1298 |
| IBP | °C | 150 min | ASTM D 86 |
| FBP | °C | 250 max | ASTM D 86 |
| Flash Point | °C | 60 min | ASTM D 93 |
| Color | – | 20 min | ASTM D 156 |
| Sulfur Total | Wt% | 0.05 max | ASTM D 1266 |
| Corrosion 3 hrs @ 100 °C | – | 2c max | ASTM D 130 |
| Mercaptan Content | Wt% | 0.001 max | ASTM D 3227 |
Packing
- Bulk
- Flexitank
