(657f) Propane and Propylene Separation By PSA - Experimental Studies

Propylene and propane separation remains as one of the grand challenges in separation processes. The incumbent technology, cryogenic distillation, is both energy and capital intensive. A new developmental carbon molecular sieve (Patent US 1023904B) was evaluated for its propylene and propane separation performance in a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) process. Different cycle configurations were investigated with the aim to achieve high propylene concentration in the propylene product stream (PSA effluent). The stability of the CMS was tested with extended PSA experiments. Propane and propylene separation by PSA using a zeolite adsorbent was studied and compared with the CMS PSA process. The effect of trace alcohol impurities on propane/propylene separation was also investigated with both CMS and zeolite as adsorbents.