Acetylene eliminated in ethylene processes

Abstract

A research group at the French Petroleum Institute (IFP) has modified the conventional approach for eliminating acetylene in ethylene processes to good effect. By applying some technology from catalytic olefin production, the researchers have increased ethylene yields, simplified equipment, and lowered the necessary investment. Some acetylene is produced during manufacture of ethylene by steam cracking of hydrocarbons. For high-purity ethylene streams (greater than 99%), the acetylene must be removed. Conventionally, this is done by catalytic hydrogenation of the ethylene, but in a few cases the acetylene is removed by the more expensive method of solvent extraction. For catalytic hydrogenation, placement of the hydrogenation reactor can be critical, according to the IFP group, which includes J. Cosyns, L. Quicke, and P. Sarrazin. If the hydrogenation reactor is placed upstream from the demethanizer, the feed to the reactor will contain light hydrocarbon components and carbon monoxide from the cracking fu...