Removal of radon from hydrocarbon streams

Claim 2

A process for removal of radon from a radon-containing olefin hydrocarbon stream, which comprises admixing carbon dioxide with said radon-containing olefinic hydrocarbon stream; contacting the resultant stream with an olefin absorbing agent in a contacting zone to form an olefin/absorbing agent complex; withdrawing from said contacting zone a first stream comprising said complex; withdrawing from said contacting zone a second stream comprising radon and carbon dioxide; passing said first stream to an olefin recovery zone wherein the olefin is separated from said absorbing agent; withdrawing from said olefin recovery zone an essentially pure olefin as one product of the process; passing said second stream to a radon recovery zone wherein radon is separated from said carbon dioxide; and withdrawing from said radon recovery zone radon as a product of the process.

Claim 3

A process according to claim 1 wherein radon is recovered from said second stream by contacting said second stream in said radon recovery zone with a caustic, thereby removing said carbon dioxide in said caustic.

Claim 4

A process according to claim 1 wherein radon is recovered from said second stream by passing said second stream into a low-temperature radon recovery zone, therein freezing out said carbon dioxide, thereby removing said carbon dioxide.

Claim 5

A process according to claim 1 wherein said absorbing agent is a compound selected from the grouup consisting of dicarbonyl-rhodium (I)-3-trifluoroacetylcamphorate, silver nitrate, silver fluosilicate, silver fluogallate, and silver fluoride.

Claim 6

A process according to claim 5 wherein said absorbing agent is dissolved in a solvent selected from the group consisting of water, ethylene glycol, glycerol, phenol, propionitrile, acetonitrile, benzonitrile, pyridine, aniline, and n-hexane, said solvent being present in an amount from about 15 to about 85 percent by weight.

Claim 7

A process according to claim 1 where separation of said first stream complex is effected by heating said complex within said olefin recovery zone.

Claim 8

A process according to claim 1 wherein separation of said first stream complex is effected by reducing the pressure within said olefin recovery zone.

Claim 9

A process according to claim 1 wherein separation of said first stream complex is effected by the combination of heat and reduced pressure within said olefin recovery zone.

Claim 10

A process for removal of radon from a radon-containing natural gas stream consisting essentially of paraffinic hydrocarbons, which comprises admixing propylene with said radon-containing natural gas stream; passing said mixture into a separation zone wherein a stream consisting essentially of radon and propylene is separated from said paraffinic hydrocarbons; withdrawing from said separation zone a first stream comprising said paraffinic hydrocarbons; withdrawing from said separation zone a second stream consisting essentially of propylene and radon; admixing carbon dioxide with said second stream; passing the resultant mixture to a contacting zone wherein said mixture is contacted with an olefin absorbing agent to form a propylene/absorbing agent complex; withdrawing from said contacting zone a third stream comprising said complex; withdrawing from said contacting zone a fourth stream comprising radon and carbon dioxide; passing said third stream to a propylene recovery zone wherein propylene is separated from said absorbing agent; withdrawing from said propylene recovery zone a fifth stream comprising propylene; withdrawing from said propylene recovery zone a sixth stream comprising said absorbing agent; passing said fourth stream to a radon recovery zone wherein radon is separated from said carbon dioxide; and withdrawing from said radon recovery zone a seventh stream comprising radon as a product of the process.

Claim 11

A process for removal of radon from a radon-containing natural gas stream consisting essentially of paraffinic hydrocarbons, which comprises admixing propylene with said radon-containing natural gas stream; passing said mixture into a separation zone wherein a stream consisting essentially of radon and propylene is separated from said paraffinic hydrocarbons; withdrawing from said separation zone a first stream comprising said paraffinic hydrocarbons; withdrawing from said separation zone a second stream consisting essentially of propylene and radon; admixing carbon dioxide with said second stream; passing the resultant mixture to a contacting zone wherein said mixture is contacted with an olefin absorbing agent to form a propylene/absorbing agent complex; withdrawing from said contacting zone a third stream comprising said complex; withdrawing from said contacting zone a fourth stream comprising radon and carbon dioxide; passing said third stream to a propylene recovery zone wherein propylene is separated from said absorbing agent; withdrawing from said propylene recovery zone a fifth stream comprising propylene; withdrawing from said propylene recovery zone a sixth stream comprising said absorbing agent; passing said fourth stream to a radon recovery zone wherein radon is separated from said carbon dioxide; and withdrawing from said radon recovery zone a seventh stream comprising radon as a product of the process.

Claim 12

A process according to claim 9 wherein radon is recovered from said fourth stream by contacting said stream in said radon recovery zone with a caustic, thereby removing said carbon dioxide in said caustic.

Claim 13

A process according to claim 9 wherein radon is recovered from said fourth stream by passing said stream into a low temperature radon recovery zone, therein freezing out said carbon dioxide thereby removing said carbon dioxide.

Claim 14

A process according to claim 9 wherein said absorbing agent is a compound selected from the group consisting of dicarbonyl-rhodium (I) -3-trifluoroacetylcamphorate, silver nitrate, silver fluosilicate, silver fluogallate, and silver fluoride.

Claim 15

A process according to claim 12 wherein said absorbing agent is dissolved in a solvent selected from the group consisting of water, ethylene glycol, glycerol, phenol, propionitrile, acetonitrile, benzonitrile, pyridine, aniline and n-hexane, said solvent being present in an amount from about 15 to about 85 percent by weight.

Claim 16

A process according to claim 9 wherein separation of said third stream complex is effected by heating said complex within said olefin recovery zone.

Claim 17

A process according to claim 9 wherein separation of said third stream complex is effected by reducing the pressure within said olefin recovery zone.

Claim 18

A process according to claim 9 wherein separation of said third stream complex is effected by the combination of heat and reduced pressure within said olefin recovery zone.