# US 2008/0185338 A1 · Separation of olefin vapor from liquid fraction to reduce fouling > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2008/0185338 A1 - Document ID: US20080185338A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 11/701,790 - Filed: 2007-02-02 - Published: 2008-08-07 - Earliest claimed: 2007-02-02 - Assignees: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc. - Inventors: Cor F. Van Egmond; Michael J. Veraa; Steven E. Silverberg; Michael P. Nicoletti; John Richard Shutt - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080185338A1 ## CPC - C07C 1/20: starting from organic compounds containing only oxygen atoms as heteroatoms - C07C 7/10: by extraction, i.e. purification or separation of liquid hydrocarbons with the aid of liquids - Y10S 585/91: Exploiting or conserving heat of quenching, reaction, or regeneration - C07C: ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS ## Abstract This invention is directed to methods of removing water and other condensable materials, as well as solids particles such as catalyst particles, from olefin product streams so as to reduce fouling in the liquid and vapor separation equipment. In order to reduce fouling or contamination in the condensing or quenching process, this invention includes adding a hydrocarbon to at least a portion of the condensed liquid fraction in an amount that effects separation of the liquid fraction into upper and lower fractions. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A process for separating an olefin stream, comprising: condensing a portion of the olefin stream to form a liquid fraction containing olefin, water, and particulate solids; adding hydrocarbon to at least a portion of the liquid fraction in an amount to effect separation of the liquid fraction into an upper and lower fraction, the upper fraction containing fewer of the particulate solids than the lower fraction; and separating the upper fraction from the lower fraction. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, wherein the hydrocarbon has a specific gravity less than that of toluene. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, wherein the hydrocarbon comprises one or more C8 to C18 hydrocarbons. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, wherein the hydrocarbon has a surface tension of no greater than 28 dynes/cm at 25° C. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, wherein the hydrocarbon has an initial boiling point of not less than 90° C. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, wherein the hydrocarbon has a final boiling point of not greater than 220° C. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, wherein the hydrocarbon comprises no greater than 50 wt % aromatics. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, wherein the hydrocarbon has an aniline point of at least 30° C. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, wherein the hydrocarbon comprises at least 1 wt % paraffin. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the solid particulates in the condensed liquid fraction are particles of molecular sieve catalyst. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The process of claim 10, wherein at least a majority of the particles of the molecular sieve catalyst separate with the lower liquid fraction. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The process of claim 11, wherein the lower liquid fraction is a water fraction. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, wherein the hydrocarbon is added to maintain a concentration of from 0.3 wt % to 30 wt % in the liquid fraction. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the liquid fraction is sent to a separator vessel and the hydrocarbon is added to the portion sent to the separator vessel. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, wherein the condensing is carried out in a quench vessel and hydrocarbon is added to the quench vessel. ### Claim 16 A process for separating an olefin stream produced from an oxygenate feed into a vapor and liquid fractions, comprising: contacting the oxygenate feed with a molecular sieve catalyst to form an olefin stream; condensing a portion of the olefin stream to form an olefin vapor and a condensed liquid, wherein the liquid comprises water and molecular sieve catalyst particles; separating the olefin from the condensed liquid; adding hydrocarbon to at least a portion of the condensed liquid to effect separation of the condensed liquid fraction into at least an upper fraction and a lower fraction so the lower fraction contains a majority of the water and the molecular sieve catalyst particles present in the condensed liquid; and separating the upper fraction from the lower fraction. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The process of claim 16, wherein the hydrocarbon has a specific gravity less than that of toluene. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The process of claim 16, wherein the hydrocarbon comprises one or more C8 to C18 hydrocarbons. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The process of claim 16, wherein the hydrocarbon has a surface tension of no greater than 28 dynes/cm at 25° C. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The process of claim 16, wherein the hydrocarbon has an initial boiling point of not less than 90° C. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) The process of claim 16, wherein the hydrocarbon has a final boiling point of not greater than 220° C. ### Claim 22 (depends on 16) The process of claim 16, wherein the hydrocarbon comprises no greater than 50 wt % aromatics. ### Claim 23 (depends on 16) The process of claim 16, wherein the hydrocarbon has an aniline point of at least 30° C. ### Claim 24 (depends on 16) The process of claim 16, wherein the hydrocarbon comprises at least 1 wt % paraffin. ### Claim 25 (depends on 16) The process of claim 16, wherein the hydrocarbon is added to maintain a concentration of from 0.3 wt % to 30 wt % in the condensed liquid. ### Claim 26 (depends on 16) The process of claim 16, wherein at least a first portion of the condensed liquid is sent to a separator vessel and the hydrocarbon is added to the first portion. ### Claim 27 (depends on 16) The process of claim 16, wherein the condensing is carried out in a quench vessel and hydrocarbon is added to the quench vessel.