Sulfur resistant/tolerant adsorbents useful for separating olefins from paraffins
in a cracked gas stream including hydrogen sulfide. The method comprises the steps
of contacting the gaseous mixture with an adsorbent which preferentially adsorbs
the alkene, at a selected temperature and pressure, thereby producing a non-adsorbed
component and an alkene-rich adsorbed component; the adsorbent comprising a carrier
having a surface area, the carrier having been impregnated with a silver compound
by incipient wetness, the silver compound releasably retaining the alkene; and
changing at least one of the pressure and temperature to thereby release the alkene-rich
component from the adsorbent. The adsorbent substantially maintains its adsorbent
capacity and preference for the alkene in the presence of the sulfur compound.
Sulfur resistant/tolerant adsorbents useful for selectively separating dienes from
a mixture, particularly one containing mono-olefins and hydrogen sulfide, are also disclosed.
