Patent ID: 8784535

Claim:
A process for the separation of C 2+ hydrocarbons from a natural gas stream, which process comprises: a) subjecting said natural gas stream to an adsorption step by introducing it into the feed input end of an adsorbent bed selective for adsorbing said C 2+ hydrocarbons, which adsorbent bed comprises at least one adsorbent material and a feed input end and a product output end, and which adsorbent bed is operated at a first pressure and a first temperature wherein C 2+ hydrocarbons are selectively adsorbed by the adsorbent bed and wherein a first C 1 product stream having a higher mol % of C 1 hydrocarbons than said natural gas stream is retrieved from the product output end of said adsorbent bed; b) stopping the introduction of said natural gas stream; c) depressurizing said adsorption bed to a second pressure lower than said first pressure; d) externally heating said depressurized adsorbent bed to a second temperature greater than said first temperature, thereby causing at least a fraction of the adsorbed C 2+ hydrocarbons to desorb from the adsorbent bed; e) counter-currently flowing through said heated adsorbent bed a first purge gas stream at a third pressure; and f) recovering a C 2+ product stream comprising C 2+ hydrocarbon components and methane, wherein a second purge gas stream is passed co-currently through the adsorption bed following depressurization step (c) and prior to heating step (d).