Monoolefin/paraffin separation by selective absorption
AssigneePhillips Petroleum Company
InventorsRonald E. Brown, Robert L. Hair
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Abstract
A selective absorption process for separating C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 alkenes (in particular ethylene) from C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 alkanes with a liquid extractant comprising dissolved copper(I) compound(s), in particular dissolved Cu(I) hydrocarbonsulfonate(s), is carried out in a one-column operation, wherein an overhead product is withdrawn which contains alkene(s) at a lower concentration than the feed, a side product is withdrawn which contains alkene(s) at a higher concentration than the feed, and a bottoms stream is withdrawn which contains primarily the liquid extractant.
Claims11
A process for separating ethylene from light alkanes which comprises:
- (1) contacting in an absorption column a gaseous feed stream comprising ethylene and at least one alkane selected from the group consisting of methane, ethane, propane, butane and isobutane with at least one liquid extractant selected from the group consisting of dissolved copper(I) hydrocarbonsulfonates, wherein said at least one liquid extractant is introduced into said absorption column at an entry point located above the entry point of said gaseous feed stream;
- (2) withdrawing a gaseous overhead product stream in which the concentration of ethylene is less than in said gaseous feed stream, wherein said gaseous overhead product stream is withdrawn at an exit point located in said absorption column above the entry point of said at least one liquid extractant;
- (3) withdrawing a gaseous side product stream in which the concentration of ethylene is higher than in said gaseous feed stream, wherein said gaseous side product stream is withdrawn at an exit point located in said absorption column below the entry point of said gaseous feed stream;
- and
- (4) withdrawing a liquid bottoms stream comprising said at least one liquid extractant, at an exit point located in said absorption column below the exit point of said gaseous product stream.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.