SEPARATION OF METHANE FROM HIGHER CARBON NUMBER HYDROCARBONS UTILIZING ZEOLITIC IMIDAZOLATE FRAMEWORK MATERIALS

摘要

The present invention relates to the selective separation of methane ('CH4')from higher carbon number hydrocarb-ons('HHCs) in streams containing both methane and higher carbon numberhydrocarbons (e.g. ethylene, ethane, propylene,propane, etc.) utilizing a zeolitic imidazolate framework ('ZIF') material.Preferably, the stream to be separated is fed to thepresent process in a substantially gaseous phase. In preferred embodiments,the current invention is utilized in a process toseparate methane from higher carbon number hydrocarbons in natural gasstreams.