A DISTILLATIVE METHOD OF SEPARATING A MIXTURE CONTAINING CARBON DIOXIDE AND A LIGHT HYDROCARBON

摘要

An improved distillative method of separating an acid gas (e.g. carbon dioxide or hydrogen sulfide) and light hydrocarbons (e.g. ethane, ethylene, or propane) using a distillation column (14) is disclosed in which the formation of an azeotrope between these components is prevented by addition of an additional component to the mixture under distillation. Prevention of the azeotrope allows a more complete separation to be achieved. The additional component is for example a C3-C6 alkane or a mixture of C3-C6 alkanes.