Process for separating 1-butene from C4 raffinate gas composition

A process for separating 1-butene from a hydrocarbon-containing gas composition in which the hydrocarbons consist of a mixture of 1-butene, iso-butene and iso-butane, the method comprising:

• introducing the hydrocarbon-containing gas composition to a reactor containing an adsorbent material and passing the hydrocarbon-containing gas composition through the adsorbent material;
• wherein the adsorbent material is at least one selected from the group consisting of a zeolite adsorbent and an alkali-modified zeolite adsorbent, the adsorbent material comprising 43 to 44 wt. % O, 4 to 7 wt. % Na, 16 to 18 wt. % Al, 17 to 18 wt. % Si, 15 to 17 wt. % Ca, and 0.01 to 1 wt. % Fe, each wt. % based on the total weight of the zeolite adsorbent or the alkali-modified zeolite adsorbent as determined by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF);
• wherein the adsorbent material has a particle size in a range of 0.5 to 1 millimeters (mm), and a pore size in a range of 4 to 12 angstrom (Å);
• adsorbing the 1-butene from the hydrocarbon-containing gas composition onto the adsorbent material to separate the 1-butene from the hydrocarbon-containing gas composition and form a residue gas composition;
• and
• desorbing the 1-butene by heating the adsorbent material after the adsorbing to form the 1-butene and regenerate the adsorbent material;
• wherein the adsorbent material is at least 99% by weight selective towards 1-butene for adsorption in comparison to iso-butene and iso-butane.