| abstract |
A continuous process is disclosed for separating components of a hydrocarbon gas stream (151) which are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, nitrogen, methane, ethylene, ethane, higher saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons, and mixtures thereof by countercurrently contacting in extractor (150) the hydrocarbon gas stream (151) with a physical solvent (157) selected from the group consisting of: 1) paraffinic solvents having molecular weight ranging from 75 to 140 and UOP characterization factors ranging from 12.0 to 13.5, these factors being independent of the aromatic content of the paraffinic solvents, 2) naphthenic solvents having molecular weights ranging form 75 to 130 and UOP characterization factors ranging from 10.5 to 12.0, these factors being independent of the aromatic content of the naphthenic solvents, and 3) benzene and toluene, to produce an overhead stream (153) which is at least rich in at least one of the components and a rich solvent bottoms stream (155); and by recovering the lean physical solvent (165) from the rich solvent bottoms stream (155) and recycling the recovered stream (167) to the contacting of Step A. |