Method for the separation of compounds having olefinic unsaturation

Abstract

Olefins may be separated from paraffins, particularly those having the same number of carbon atoms, more easily than by fractional distillation by contacting a feed containing both materials with an aqueous solution of silver nitrate and nitric acid. The olefins form water soluble complexes with silver and are recovered by heating the water to decompose the complexes, thereby producing an olefin concentrate. In the absence of nitric acid contaminant hydrogen reduces the silver to metal and causes it to form colloidal solids and acetylenes form explosive solid compounds with silver. The nitric acid prevents the formation of insoluble solids by hydrogen and causes the silver acetylides to decompose during the olefin recovery step. Carrying out multiple stages of extraction and recovery can produce very high purity olefin.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.