PROCESS FOR SEPARATING ALKYLAROMATICS FROM AROMATIC SOLVENTS AND THE SEPARATION OF THE ALKYLAROMATIC ISOMERS USING MEMBRANES

In the production of alkylaromatics by the alkylation of aromatic hydrocarbons with alkylating agents such as olefins typically in the presence of a catalyst, the unconverted aromatic hydrocarbon remaining after completion of the alkylation process is separated from the alkylaromatic product and the terminal alkylaromatic isomers are separated from the mixture of alkylaromatic isomers produced in the alkylation process by the selective permeation of the aromatic hydrocarbon and the terminal isomers through a permselective membrane, preferably an asymmetric membrane producing a permeate rich in the terminal isomers and a retentate which is lean (i.e., depleated) in the terminal isomers. Permeation is under reverse osmosis conditions, that is, under a pressure sufficient to at least overcome the osmotic pressure of the aromatic hydrocarbon present in the mixture made up of the aromatic hydrocarbon, the olefin and the mixed isomer alkylaromatic product. Permeation is carried out at a pressure of about 100 to 800 psig, preferably a pressure of about 200 to 600 psig, more preferably a pressure of about 300 to 500 psig, at a temperature of about 0 to 100.degree.C, preferably about 20-80.degree.C, most preferably about 20 to 50.degree.C. The membrane of choice is an asymmetric polyimide membrane.