A Method for the Separation of Aromatic and Aliphatic Hydrocarbons

A method for separating aromatics and aliphatics from mixtures of aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons using deep eutectic solvents at or near ambient conditions is disclosed. The method is implemented with deep eutectic solvents as selective solvents that dissolve aromatics in large quantities and aliphatics in very small quantities which are then separated by liquid-liquid extraction or extractive distillation. The separation of the aromatics from the deep eutectic solvent is accomplished by normal distillation. The deep eutectic solvent is then recycled.