Methods and systems for the removal of heavy hydrocarbons

1. A method for removing heavy hydrocarbons from a solvent stream, said method comprising:

providing, to a static mixer a first batch of a mixture and a light hydrocarbon, the first batch of a mixture comprising heavy hydrocarbons and at least one solvent;

mixing the first batch of a mixture and the light hydrocarbon in the static mixer to form a mixed product;

feeding the mixed product to a first separator;

extracting, from the first separator, the heavy hydrocarbons and the light hydrocarbons from the mixed product;

removing, from the separator, a solvent fraction from the mixed product;

washing, in a second separator, the heavy hydrocarbons and the light hydrocarbons with a water wash;

removing, from the second separator, said water wash and a carry-over solvent;

isolating an output stream comprising heavy hydrocarbons; and

wherein no water wash is added to the mixed product prior to feeding the mixed product to the first separator.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said output stream comprising heavy hydrocarbons further comprises said light hydrocarbons.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said solvent stream comprises a closed-loop solvent stream.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

regenerating the at least one solvent;

wherein the regenerating step comprises use of a solvent regeneration system.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein said water wash comprises condensed stripping steam produced by said solvent regeneration system.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein a concentration of said heavy hydrocarbons in said at least one solvent is above a threshold value that triggers operation of said method.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said solvent stream comprises aromatic compounds.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said extracting step removes heavy aromatic compounds.