Abstract: An improved process is disclosed for the removal of nitrogen compounds from light hydrocarbon streams. Such nitrogen removal enhances the performance of catalytic processes which upgrade light hydrocarbons, especially light olefins, such as isomerization and etherification. The nitrogen-removal process can usefully be combined with steps for removal of sulfur compounds and highly unsaturated compounds in a process combination for upgrading the light hydrocarbons.

Abstract: In a process for producing tertiary alkyd ethers from an olefinic hydrocarbon feedstock, undesirable normal alkanes are removed from the process by passing at least a portion of a hydrocarbon process stream to an alkane isomerization zone to convert normal alkane to isoalkane and passing the alkane isomerization zone effluent to a separation zone to remove the isoalkane. Since no normal alkane is discharged from the process, the loss of valuable olefins, which have boiling points close to normal alkane, is prevented and olefins are retained in the process and converted to the appropriate tertiary alkyl ether. The result is an increase in the ether yield.