Absorption process for separating components of gaseous mixtures

Claim 1

A PROCESS FOR SEPARATING LIQUEFIABLE HYDROCARBONS FROM A GASEOUS MIXTURE CONTAINING CARBON DIOXIDE, ETHANE AND HIGHER MOLECULAR WEIGHT HYDROCARBONS WHICH COMPRISES (A) CONTACTING SAID GASEOUS MIXTURE IN AN ABSORPTION ZONE WITH A LIQUID ABSORBENT CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF CARBON DIOXIDE, ETHANE AND METHANE, UNDER CONDITIONS TO PARTIALLY VAPORIZE SAID ABSORBENT AND TO ABSORB HYDROCARBONS OF HIGHER MOLECULAR WEIGHT THAN ETHANE IN UNVAPORIZED ABSORBENT THEREBY FORMING A RICH ABSORBENT; (B) SEPARATELY WITHDRAWING FROM SAID ABSORPTION ZONE GASEOUS AND RICH ABSORBENT STREAMS; (C) SEPARATING HYDROCARBONS OF HIGHER MOLECULAR WEIGHT THAN ETHANE FROM SAID RICH ABSORBENT UNDER CONDITIONS TO AT LEAST PARTIALLY VAPORIZE CARBON DIOXIDE, METHANE AND ETHANE; (D) CONDENSING THE VAPORIZED CARBON DIOXIDE, METHANE AND ETHANE FROM STEP (C) TO FORM A LIQUID LEAN ABSORBENT; AND (E) RECYCLING AT LEAST A PORTION OF SAID LEAN ABSORBENT TO SAID ABSORPTION ZONE.