Patent ID: 7154016

Claim:
In a process for converting a hydrocarbon gas steam to an alkene using a steam cracker including providing a hydrocarbon gas stream, heating the gas stream to at least 750° C. to thermally crack the hydrocarbon gas stream, and recovering the alkene reaction product wherein the improvement comprises adding at least 10 ppm of an organic polysulfide having the formula R—S x —R where R is a linear or branched alkyl of 3 to 15 carbon atoms and x is either an integer between 3 and 8 or R—S x —R is a blend of compounds where x varies between 1 and 8 in the form of dispersed droplets to said hydrocarbon gas stream at a hydrocarbon gas stream temperature of less than 100° C. before said steam cracker based on the weight of said hydrocarbon gas stream.