Patent ID: 8557087

Claim:
A process for the separation of a hydrocarbon-containing feed stream comprising olefin monomer, co-monomer and hydrocarbon diluent, comprising: introducing said feed stream to a distillation column; subjecting said feed stream to distillation conditions whereby a bottom stream comprising substantially olefin-free hydrocarbon diluent is removed from the distillation column and stored in a bottom stream storage vessel; a side stream comprising hydrocarbon diluent is removed from the distillation column and stored in a side stream storage vessel; and an overhead vapor stream comprising olefin monomer, and a component selected from the group consisting of H 2 , N 2 , O 2 , CO, CO 2 and formaldehyde is removed; removing bottom stream from said bottom stream storage vessel; feeding at least part of the bottom stream that is removed from the bottom stream storage vessel to said side stream storage vessel, wherein feeding at least a part of the bottom stream that is removed from the bottom stream storage vessel to said side stream storage vessel is regulated by measuring the level of said bottom stream in said bottom stream storage vessel, comparing said measured level with a pre-determined level, and when said measured level exceeds said pre-determined level, feeding at least part of the bottom stream that is removed from the bottom stream storage vessel to said side stream storage vessel.