Linde Aktiengesellschaft

Friedrich Siegert

Gerhard Ranke

A process is disclosed for obtaining C.sub.2+ or C.sub.3+ hydrocarbons from hydrocarbon-containing gaseous mixtures by pressure scrubbing with a physically acting solvent selective for C.sub.2+ and, respectively, C.sub.3+ hydrocarbons. The solvent, after loading, is regenerated and reused. In order to avoid impurities in the C.sub.2+ and, respectively, C.sub.3+ product in an economical and energy-saving way, the loaded solvent is subjected to expansion to a pressure lying below the critical pressure of the solvent-gas mixture, and to heating and partial evaporation in order to drive off concomitantly dissolved inert gases. The solvent, reduced in its content of inert gases, is then to be passed on to regeneration. The process is advantageous, in particular, in cases where crude gases are to be processed which exhibit a low concentration of components to be scrubbed out.

Process for obtaining C.sub.2+ or C.sub.3+ hydrocarbons from gaseous

In the selective removal of sulfur compounds, e.g., H.sub.2 S, COS, from moist gaseous mixtures, comprising scrubbing the gaseous mixture in a column at a temperature below 0.degree. C., with toluene or xylene as the scrubbing liquid, and prior to the scrubbing stage, contacting the moist gaseous mixture with liquid methanol before the gaseous mixture is cooled to the scrubbing temperature, passing the scrubbing liquid containing absorbed sulfur compounds to a thermal regenerating column, and recycling resultant thermally regenerated scrubbing agent to the scrubbing stage, the improvement of maintaining a methanol concentration of above 2%, e.g. 3-8% to about 30% by weight in the scrubbing liquid to be recycled from the sump of the thermal regenerating column to the scrubbing column. This permits a lower reboiling temperature in the regenerating column so that low pressure steam can be used, among other advantages.

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Wolfratshausen, Germany

Friedrich Siegert