An Alternative Green Solvent for 1,3-Butadiene Extraction

The separation via the extractive distillation of 1,3-butadiene from C4 hydrocarbon mixtures is an essential step in synthetic rubber and plastic production. Conventional extractive distillation methods rely on solvents such as N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), which, despite their efficiency, pose significant environmental and health risks. This study investigates the feasibility of replacing these hazardous solvents with 1,2-propylene carbonate (PC), a greener alternative that aligns with REACH restrictions and CEFIC recommendations. The adoption of green solvents closely follows the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Indeed, by using green solvents, industries reduce pollution, enhance worker safety, and minimize their environmental impact, contributing to multiple SDGs, and thus fostering sustainable economic growth. Advanced solvent screening methodologies, based on thermodynamic solution models (NRTL-RK) and quantum-based approaches (COSMO-RS), were employed to evaluate PC’s viability. Aspen Plus® simulations were conducted to evaluate the industrial feasibility of PC in the 1,3-butadiene separation process. The results indicate that PC achieves comparable 1,3-butadiene separation efficiency while offering economic, operational, and environmental benefits. These findings underscore the importance of integrating sustainable solvents into industrial processes, reducing reliance on hazardous chemicals, improving compliance with evolving regulatory frameworks, and supporting sustainable industrial development.