Process for producing ethylene

A process for the production of an ethylene product stream front an oxygenate conversion effluent stream comprising hydrogen, methane, ethylene, ethane, propylene, propane, and C4-plus olefins said process comprising:

• a) passing the oxygenate conversion effluent stream to a deethianizer zone to provide a light hydrocarbon feedstream comprising hydrogen, methane, ethylene and ethane, and a deethanized stream comprising propylene, propane, and C4-plus olefins;
• b) passing the light hydrocarbon stream to a demethanizer zone operating at a demethanizing temperature greater than about −45° C. to provide a bottom stream comprising ethylene and ethane and an overhead stream comprising hydrogen, methane, and ethylene;
• c) passing the overhead stream at effective adsorption conditions to an adsorption zone containing at least two adsorption beds, each of said adsorption beds containing a selective adsorbent to adsorb the ethylene on adsorption to produce an adsorber effluent stream comprising hydrogen and methane, and on desorption to produce a desorbed stream comprising ethylene and immediately following adsorption withdrawing a vent stream comprsing hydrogen and methane in a cocurrent depressurization step which is terminated prior to the breakthrough of ethylene;
• d) passing the bottom stream to a C2 splitter zone to produce the ethylene product stream and an ethane stream;
• and
• e) combining the desorbed stream with the oxygenate conversion effluent stream prior to passing the oxygenate conversion effluent stream to the demethanizer zone.