Membrane-based separation processes enhanced with an absorption device

A process comprising:

• providing a mixed feed stream comprising at least one olefin and at least one paraffin;
• introducing at least a first portion of the mixed feed stream and a first aqueous salt stream to a salt ion membrane under conditions effective to form at least two phases while contacting the salt ion membrane;
• wherein the salt ion membrane is more permeable to olefins than to paraffins;
• obtaining an olefin-rich permeate stream and an olefin-lean retentate stream from the salt ion membrane, the olefin-lean retentate stream comprising at least a portion of the at least one olefin from the mixed feed stream;
• wherein at least one of the olefin-rich permeate stream and the olefin-lean retentate stream further comprises a salt ion membrane aqueous salt phase;
• introducing at least a portion of the olefin-lean retentate stream and a second aqueous salt stream to an absorption device under conditions effective to promote olefin extraction into the second aqueous salt stream;
• obtaining from the absorption device an olefin-rich aqueous salt stream comprising at least a portion of the at least one olefin from the olefin-lean retentate stream, and an olefin-lean hydrocarbon stream comprising at least a portion of the at least one paraffin from the mixed feed stream;
• and
• providing at least a portion of the olefin-rich aqueous salt stream as at least a portion of the first aqueous salt stream.