Process for Separation of Hydrocarbons from Hydrocarbon Mixtures

1,156,499. Separating hydrocarbons. LEUNA-WERKE " WALTER ULBRICHT ", VEB. 3 Oct., 1967, No. 45017/67. Heading C5E. In a process for the separation of hydrocarbons from hydrocarbon mixtures by adsorption or natural and/or synthetic molecular sieves, followed by desorption and accompanied by a rinsing process if necessary, at a temperaure above 250‹ C., the desorption is carried out with a mixture of water vapour and ammonia and/or if aqueous hydrocarbons are present the adsorption and rinsing are carried out in the presence of ammonia. In Examples (1) a gas oil containing less than 10 ppm of water is adsorbed on a Type 5A molecular sieve and desorbed with 5% aqueous ammonia; (2) a mixture of benzene and heptane is separated by desorption with 2% aqueous ammonia; and (3) a gas oil containing 150 ppm of water was adsorbed on a Type 5A sieve in the presence of ammonia, and desorbed with n-pentane. A comparative example involving desorption with aqueous n-propylamine is also given.