The invention relates to a process for the regeneration of an adsorber. For the regeneration a liquid stream (S2) comprising at least one alkane is converted from liquid phase into gaseous phase. Then the adsorber is regenerated and heated by contact with gaseous stream (S2) up to 230 to 270° C. Subsequently, the adsorber is cooled first by contact with gaseous stream (S2) to a temperature of 90 to 150° C. followed by cooling with liquid stream (S2) to a temperature below 80° C. The outflow of the adsorber (S2*) during the cooling with gaseous stream (S2) and optionally the outflow of the adsorber (S2*) during cooling with liquid stream (S2) is recycled in at least one of these steps.

The invention relates to a process for the regeneration of an adsorber. For the regeneration a liquid stream (S2) comprising at least one alkane is converted from liquid phase into gaseous phase. Then the adsorber is regenerated and heated by contact with gaseous stream (S2) up to 230 to 270° C. Subsequently, the adsorber is cooled first by contact with gaseous stream (S2) to a temperature of 90 to 150° C. followed by cooling with liquid stream (S2) to a temperature below 80° C. The outflow of the adsorber (S2*) during the cooling with gaseous stream (S2) and optionally the outflow of the adsorber (S2*) during cooling with liquid stream (S2) is recycled in at least one of these steps.

A natural gas refining apparatus including a first separation membrane unit including a first separation membrane; and a second separation membrane unit provided in a subsequent stage of the first separation membrane unit. The second separation membrane unit includes a second separation membrane that allows an amine solution to circulate through the second separation membrane unit, and the natural gas refining apparatus refines raw natural gas containing CO.sub.2 by passing the raw natural gas through the first and second separation membrane units, separating CO.sub.2-rich gas with the first and second separation membranes, and absorbing CO.sub.2 with the amine solution circulating through the second separation membrane unit.

A natural gas refining apparatus including a first separation membrane unit including a first separation membrane; and a second separation membrane unit provided in a subsequent stage of the first separation membrane unit. The second separation membrane unit includes a second separation membrane that allows an amine solution to circulate through the second separation membrane unit, and the natural gas refining apparatus refines raw natural gas containing CO.sub.2 by passing the raw natural gas through the first and second separation membrane units, separating CO.sub.2-rich gas with the first and second separation membranes, and absorbing CO.sub.2 with the amine solution circulating through the second separation membrane unit.

A process is presented for the production of butadienes. The process includes the recovery of a crude butadiene stream using adsorption separation and removes the need to compress the effluent stream from the oxidative dehydrogenation process effluent stream. The process includes an adsorption step to remove C4 compounds from the oxidative effluent stream, a desorption step to recover the adsorbed C4 compounds and a regeneration step to regenerate the adsorbent for continued use in the separation process.

A process is presented for the production of butadienes. The process includes the recovery of a crude butadiene stream using adsorption separation and removes the need to compress the effluent stream from the oxidative dehydrogenation process effluent stream. The process includes an adsorption step to remove C4 compounds from the oxidative effluent stream, a desorption step to recover the adsorbed C4 compounds and a regeneration step to regenerate the adsorbent for continued use in the separation process.

A process is presented for the production of butadienes. The process includes the recovery of a crude butadiene stream using adsorption separation and removes the need to compress the effluent stream from the oxidative dehydrogenation process effluent stream. The process includes an adsorption step to remove C4 compounds from the oxidative effluent stream, a desorption step to recover the adsorbed C4 compounds and a regeneration step to regenerate the adsorbent for continued use in the separation process.

Disclosed is a process for regenerating a hybrid solvent used to remove contaminants from a fluid stream and to provide an improved yield of purified fluid. Said process comprises at least one purification unit (12) and at least one regeneration unit (40) wherein condensed water 62 from the regeneration unit is recycled back into the purification unit and none of the condensed water is reintroduced into the regeneration unit.

Disclosed is a process for regenerating a hybrid solvent used to remove contaminants from a fluid stream and to provide an improved yield of purified fluid. Said process comprises at least one purification unit (12) and at least one regeneration unit (40) wherein condensed water 62 from the regeneration unit is recycled back into the purification unit and none of the condensed water is reintroduced into the regeneration unit.

Treatment of hydrocarbon streams, and in one non-limiting embodiment refinery distillates, with high pH aqueous reducing agents, such as borohydride, results in reduction of the sulfur compounds such as disulfides, mercaptans and thioethers that are present to give easily removed sulfides. The treatment converts the original sulfur compounds into hydrogen sulfide or low molecular weight mercaptans that can be extracted from the distillate with caustic solutions, hydrogen sulfide or mercaptan scavengers, solid absorbents such as clay or activated carbon or liquid absorbents such as amine-aldehyde condensates and/or aqueous aldehydes.