| abstract |
Non-normal, branched paraffins (isoparaffins) are separated from hydrocarbon feeds comprising mixtures of isoparaffins and normal paraffins by the procedure involving the steps of contacting the hydrocarbon feed with one face of a non-selective, microporous partition barrier membrane while simultaneously contacting the opposite face of said membrane, preferably in countercurrent flow, with a polar solvent. The isoparaffins in the feed selectively permeate across the porous partition barrier membrane in response to the polar solvent to the solvent side of the membrane whereby a permeate enriched in isoparaffins and a retentate of decreased isoparaffin content as compared to the feed are obtained. |