A method for separating a hydrocarbon mixture, which is obtained at least in part by steam cracking and which contains at least hydrocarbons having one, two and three carbon atoms, including ethane and ethylene, a first fraction initially being obtained from the hydrocarbon mixture by separating off other components at least in part, said fraction containing the predominant part of the hydrocarbons having two or more carbon atoms previously contained in the hydrocarbon mixture or the predominant part of the hydrocarbons having two or fewer carbon atoms previously contained in the hydrocarbon mixture, further fractions subsequently being obtained from the first fraction. A fraction containing ethane is separated off in an amount which reduces the ethane content in the first fraction to less than 25%, the fraction containing ethane being low in or free from other hydrocarbons having two carbon atoms.

A process for the hydrotreatment of a fuel gas stream containing up to 15% olefins comprises the steps of introducing the fuel gas stream into at least one co-current reactor, where the stream is split into two flow fractions, of which one fraction is routed through an olefin treatment section, while the other fraction is routed through another section, subjecting the sections to heat exchange, combining the two flows, thereby equalizing temperatures and compositions, cooling the combined flow over a heat exchanger and reacting the combined flow to equilibrium in an adiabatic hydrotreatment reactor. A second co-current reactor with intercooling arranged in series after the first cocurrent reactor and before the final adiabatic reactor is used if the fuel gas stream contains more than 8% olefins.

A process for the hydrotreatment of a fuel gas stream containing up to 15% olefins comprises the steps of introducing the fuel gas stream into at least one co-current reactor, where the stream is split into two flow fractions, of which one fraction is routed through an olefin treatment section, while the other fraction is routed through another section, subjecting the sections to heat exchange, combining the two flows, thereby equalizing temperatures and compositions, cooling the combined flow over a heat exchanger and reacting the combined flow to equilibrium in an adiabatic hydrotreatment reactor. A second co-current reactor with intercooling arranged in series after the first cocurrent reactor and before the final adiabatic reactor is used if the fuel gas stream contains more than 8% olefins.

Oxidative dehydrogenation of paraffins to olefins provides a lower energy route to produce olefins. Oxidative dehydrogenation processes may be integrated with a number of processes in a chemical plant such as polymerization processes, manufacture of glycols, and carboxylic acids and esters. Additionally, oxidative dehydrogenation processes can be integrated with the back end separation process of a conventional steam cracker to increase capacity at reduced cost.

Oxidative dehydrogenation of paraffins to olefins provides a lower energy route to produce olefins. Oxidative dehydrogenation processes may be integrated with a number of processes in a chemical plant such as polymerization processes, manufacture of glycols, and carboxylic acids and esters. Additionally, oxidative dehydrogenation processes can be integrated with the back end separation process of a conventional steam cracker to increase capacity at reduced cost.

A catalyst comprising palladium, a porous support comprising at least one refractory oxide selected from the group constituted by silica, alumina and silica-alumina, the palladium content in the catalyst being in the range 0.01% to 2% by weight with respect to the total catalyst weight, at least 80% by weight of the palladium being distributed in a crust at the periphery of said support, the thickness of said crust being in the range 20 to 100 m, characterized in that said support is in the form of an extrudate and in that said support comprises a specific surface area in the range 165 to 250 m.sup.2/g.

This invention relates to a process and an apparatus for producing a mixed feed stream for a steam reforming plant from a first feed stream containing methane and a second feed stream comprising higher hydrocarbons, olefins and diolefins. According to the invention, the required hydrogenation of the mono- and diolefins and the hydrodesulfurization of the organic sulfur compounds contained in the feed stream are carried out step by step under process conditions optimized in each case. Furthermore, the inlet temperature into the respective reaction zone is controlled such that overheating of the feedstocks is avoided, which otherwise leads to undesired coke deposits, cloggings and the accelerated deactivation of the catalysts used.

This invention relates to a process and an apparatus for producing a mixed feed stream for a steam reforming plant from a first feed stream containing methane and a second feed stream comprising higher hydrocarbons, olefins and diolefins. According to the invention, the required hydrogenation of the mono- and diolefins and the hydrodesulfurization of the organic sulfur compounds contained in the feed stream are carried out step by step under process conditions optimized in each case. Furthermore, the inlet temperature into the respective reaction zone is controlled such that overheating of the feedstocks is avoided, which otherwise leads to undesired coke deposits, cloggings and the accelerated deactivation of the catalysts used.

A system for removing oxygenates from a hydrocarbon stream includes a caustic wash unit comprising a plurality of caustic wash loops, and a hydrogenation reactor. The hydrogenation reactor is configured to receive a first gaseous stream from a first caustic wash loop of the plurality of caustic wash loops and pass a second gaseous stream from the hydrogenation reactor to a second caustic wash loop of the plurality of caustic wash loops, wherein the hydrogenation reactor comprises a sulfided catalyst.

A system for removing oxygenates from a hydrocarbon stream includes a caustic wash unit comprising a plurality of caustic wash loops, and a hydrogenation reactor. The hydrogenation reactor is configured to receive a first gaseous stream from a first caustic wash loop of the plurality of caustic wash loops and pass a second gaseous stream from the hydrogenation reactor to a second caustic wash loop of the plurality of caustic wash loops, wherein the hydrogenation reactor comprises a sulfided catalyst.