Main features of a novel extraction-hydrogenation unit

•Continuous hydrogenation reactor coupled to continuous extraction unit.•For global selectivity, the most influential parameter is partition coefficient.•Highly influential variables are hold-up and residential time.•Over 90% impunity removal was achieved.•Not suitable from polishing operation. The potential for coupling a continuous hydrogenation reactor with a continuous extraction unit was investigated through computer simulation of series of mixers/settlers coupled to a slurry reactor in a closed loop. The process has the potential to replace the regeneration of extraction solvents by distillation. Additionally, the system eliminates the need to treat the entire feedstock when refining a complex mixture. It is believed that the reaction of the extract retains valuable components in the feed that are not extracted and could undergo undesirable hydrogenation. The parameters for the simulation model were obtained from correlations and published data. The system was expected to exhibit a pseudo-first-order reaction rate in relation to the impurity concentration due to its low concentration in the extract. This is expected to result in high hydrogen-to-impurity ratios, which can be advantageous from a reaction driving force perspective. Solvent degradation by hydrogenation and solvent-impurity reactions are thought to be the main problems for the extraction-hydrogenation process. [Display omitted]