Patent ID: 7332640

Claim:
A process for kinetically separating a light hydrocarbon mixture comprising at least two components by preferentially adsorbing a first component on a zeolite adsorbent comprising 8-member rings of tetrahedra as the pore opening controlling hydrocarbon diffusion, wherein the zeolite adsorbent has been dealuminated and contains alkali metal cations balancing a framework charge, wherein a second component is not preferentially adsorbed, the process comprising the steps of: (a) contacting the light hydrocarbon mixture with the zeolite adsorbent having a SiO 2 /Al 2 O 3 molar ratio greater than about 80 and less than 180 and having a diffusion rate at least 50 times greater for the first component as compared to the second component; and (b) recovering at least one of the first component and the second component.