Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure feature an intrinsically microporous ladder-type Tröger's base polymer including a repeat unit based on a combination of W-shaped CANAL-type and V-shaped Tröger's base building blocks, methods of making the intrinsically microporous ladder-type Tröger's base polymer, and methods of using the intrinsically microporous ladder-type Tröger's base polymer to separate a chemical species from a fluid composition including a mixture of chemical species. Embodiments of the present disclosure further include ladder-type diamine monomers for reacting to form a Tröger's base in situ, and methods of making the ladder-type diamine monomers using catalytic arene-norbornene annulation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a bio-electrode composition comprising a polymer compound having a repeating unit A that contains silver salt of fluorosulfonic acid, silver salt of fluorosulfonimide, or silver salt of fluorosulfonamide. This can form a living body contact layer for a bio-electrode with excellent electric conductivity, biocompatibility and light weight, which can be manufactured at low cost and does not cause large lowering of the electric conductivity even when it is wetted with water or dried. The present invention also provides a bio-electrode in which the living body contact layer is formed from the bio-electrode composition and a method for manufacturing the bio-electrode.

Abstract: Disclosed are a CMS membrane, characterized in that it is obtainable by pyrolysis of a polyimide composed of the monomers 1-(4-aminophenyl)-1,3,3-trimethyl-2H-inden-5-amine and 5-(1,3-dioxo-2-benzofuran-5-carbonyl-2-benzofuran-1,3-dione of the following formulae: preferably by pyrolysis of the polyimide having the CAS number 62929-02-6, and a supported CMS membrane comprising a CMS membrane obtainable from a polyimide by pyrolysis and a porous support, characterized in that a mesoporous intermediate layer is provided between the CMS membrane and the porous support. Further disclosed are a process for preparing the supported membrane, the use of the membranes for separating gas mixtures or liquid mixtures, an apparatus for gas separation or for liquid separation, and the use of the polyimide for preparing a CMS membrane by pyrolysis.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a gas separation membrane module that has high, long-term utility. The present disclosure provides a gas separation membrane module that has: a housing; a gas separation membrane that is arranged inside the housing; and an adhesive part that fixes the gas separation membrane to the housing.

Abstract: The extraction of benzene from benzene/cyclohexane mixture described herein is a process that removes benzene from a benzene/cyclohexane mixture with high selectivity, resulting in an enriched cyclohexane content in the retentate. The process involves adding an aqueous solution of poloxamer 188 to the benzene/cyclohexane mixture and waiting for the mixture to partition into an organic layer above an aqueous layer. Benzene, being more polar than cyclohexane, is selectively drawn into the aqueous layer. Benzene is then removed from the aqueous layer by pervaporation through a composite PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane)/polystyrene membrane. Cyclohexane is recovered from the retentate by drawing off the organic layer of the retentate by any known method. About 97% of benzene has been removed from a 50-50 wt % mixture by pervaporation in the static mode, and about 99% by pervaporation in the continuous mode.

Abstract: A solar receiver heat transfer pressurized fluid system includes: a pressure relief valve; and a trapping device for separating liquid droplets from a pressurized gas released by the pressure relief valve and to capture the liquid droplets. The trapping device includes: a horizontal pipe; a liquid trap element extending from the horizontal pipe for catching separated liquid droplets; and a vertical exhaust pipe connected to the horizontal pipe substantially in a perpendicular manner and having an open end for discharging in atmosphere the pressurized gas released by the pressure relief valve. The horizontal pipe includes a first connection means for removably connecting at a first end to the pressure relief valve and a second connection means for removably connecting at a second end to the liquid trap element. The vertical exhaust pipe is connected to the horizontal pipe between the first end removably connectable to the pressure relief valve.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the process for molecular separation of hydrocarbons using nanopore membrane comprising passing the hydrocarbon feedstock with or without separation enhancing additive/additives to produce permeate streams having different refractive indices which resonate with that of naphtha, kerosene and heavier molecules.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for separating a gas mixture is disclosed. The apparatus includes a first membrane stage, a second membrane stage, and a third membrane stage. The first membrane stage includes a first gas separation membrane configured to separate the gas mixture into a first retentate stream and a first permeate stream. The second membrane stage includes a second gas separation membrane configured to separate the first permeate stream into a second retentate stream and a second permeate stream. The second retentate stream of the second membrane stage is recycled back to connect with the first retentate stream to form a mixed fluid stream. The third membrane stage includes a third gas separation membrane configured to separate the mixed fluid stream into a third retentate stream and a third permeate stream, and the third retentate stream is configured to be withdrawn as a product or discarded.

Abstract: A process for purifying a feed gas including methane and heavy hydrocarbons, including: step a): cooling the feed gas in a heat exchanger; step b): introducing the resulting into a first phase separator to produce a liquid stream depleted in methane and enriched in heavy hydrocarbons and a gas stream; step c): separating the gas stream in a membrane from which a methane-enriched permeate stream and a partially condensed residue stream exit; step d): introducing the residue stream from step c) into a second phase separator vessel in order to produce a liquid stream and a gas stream; step e): introducing at least one portion of the gas stream resulting from step d) into a JT expansion means; and step f): heating at least one portion of the expanded stream in the heat exchanger used in step a) counter-current to the feed stream in order to cool the latter.

Abstract: Provided are integrated processes for the conversion of beta propiolactone to acrylic acid. Systems for the production of acrylic acid are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a low-temperature membrane separation device and method for capturing carbon dioxide at a high concentration, in which a gas mixture is passed through a membrane unit to thus separate carbon dioxide. The membrane unit includes a membrane for capturing carbon dioxide and is connected to a feed gas line, a retentate gas line and a permeate gas line. The method includes a first separation step of passing the gas mixture through a first membrane unit and a second separation step of passing the permeation gas, which is discharged to the permeate gas line connected to the first membrane unit, through a second membrane unit. The second separation step is performed at a temperature that is lower than a temperature at which the first separation step is performed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for oxidative coupling of methane (OCM), comprising the steps of: (a) contacting, in a reactor, oxygen and methane with an OCM catalyst, resulting in a reactor effluent comprising ethylene, ethane, methane, carbon dioxide and water; (b) cooling the reactor effluent to obtain a liquid stream comprising water and a gas stream comprising ethylene, ethane, methane and carbon dioxide; (c) removing carbon dioxide from at least a part of the gas stream comprising ethylene, ethane, methane and carbon dioxide resulting in a gas stream comprising ethylene, ethane and methane; (d) passing at least a part of the gas stream comprising ethylene, ethane and methane as obtained in step (c) through a membrane, preferably a membrane comprising metal cations, more preferably a membrane comprising silver (I) ions (Ag+ ions) or copper (I) ions (Cu+ ions), to obtain a stream comprising ethane and a stream comprising ethylene.

Abstract: Provided is a method of efficiently treating a fluid to be treated containing a compound that destroys a zeolite membrane to prevent the fluid from destroying the zeolite membrane. A fluid to be treated 10 formed of a liquid mixture or a gas mixture and containing a compound that destroys a zeolite membrane 2 is brought into contact with particles (3, 5) made of the same type of zeolites as the zeolite membrane 2 and filling a pretreatment device 4 installed upstream of a membrane module 1 including the zeolite membrane 2 or a portion upstream of the zeolite membrane 2 in the membrane module 1 to destroy the zeolite forming the particles (3, 5) and the fluid to be treated 10 is made to contain a component generated by the destruction.

Abstract: A feed fluid mixture including at least one condensable component and at least one non-condensable component is separated into a gaseous permeate and an at least partially liquid retentate with a gas separation membrane through simultaneous condensation of at least one of said at least one condensable component on a retentate side of the membrane and permeation of at least one of said at least one non-condensable component through the membrane.

Abstract: Polymer membranes include a polymer material that is selectively permeable to acidic gases over methane in a gas stream, such as natural gas. The polymer material may be a polymer membrane comprising a fluorinated polytriazole polymer. The fluorinated polytriazole polymer may further comprise a substituted phenyl or a substituted benzenaminyl. The substituted phenyl or substituted benzenaminyl may be substituted with hydrogen, bromo, fluoro, chloro, iodo, hydroxy, methyl, trifluoromethyl, dimethylamino, tert-butyl, or difluoromethoxy groups. The polymer material may have a degree of polymerization of from 100 to 175. The polymer membranes may be incorporated into systems or methods for removing separable gases, such as acidic gases, from gas streams, such as natural gas.

Abstract: This invention provides a new high selectivity stable facilitated transport membrane comprising a polyethersulfone (PES)/polyethylene oxide-polysilsesquioxane (PEO-Si) blend support membrane, a hydrophilic polymer inside the pores on the skin layer surface of the PES/PEO-Si blend support membrane; a hydrophilic polymer coated on the skin layer surface of the PES/PEO-Si blend support membrane, and metal salts incorporated in the hydrophilic polymer coating layer and the skin layer surface pores of the PES/PEO-Si blend support membrane, and methods of making such membranes. This invention also provides a method of using the high selectivity stable facilitated transport membrane comprising PES/PEO-Si blend support membrane for olefin/paraffin separations such as propylene/propane and ethylene/ethane separations.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for treating an aqueous liquid comprising oil droplets and a surfactant and/or a base. For this method, a pore size threshold of a filter is determined taking into account the interfacial tension between the oil droplets and the water, and a filter is selected whose pore size is less than or equal to this threshold for filtration of the aqueous liquid.

Abstract: This invention discloses an improved thin-film composite membrane and processes that use the membrane for the separation of gaseous mixtures that include an alkene. The membrane is particularly useful for separation of alkenes from alkanes or the separation of alkenes from other non-hydrocarbon gases. The membrane has a more mechanically durable and defect-free gas-separation layer that is fabricated from an ionomer solution that is substantially free of dissolved ionic species not associated with the ionomer and the mean helium permeability of the thin-film composite membrane is less than two times greater than the intrinsic helium permeability of the gas-separation layer.

Abstract: The invention provides a high permeance and high selectivity facilitated transport membrane comprising a very small pore, nanoporous polyethersulfone (PES)/polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) blend support membrane, a hydrophilic polymer inside the very small nanopores on the skin layer surface of the support membrane, a thin, nonporous, hydrophilic polymer layer coated on the surface of the support membrane, and metal salts incorporated in the hydrophilic polymer layer coated on the surface of the support membrane and the hydrophilic polymer inside the very small nanopores, a method of making this membrane, and the use of this membrane for olefin/paraffin separations, particularly for propylene/propane and ethylene/ethane separations.

Abstract: Systems and methods for multi-stage refrigeration in mixed refrigerant and cascade refrigeration cycles using one or more liquid motive eductors.

Abstract: Systems and methods for multi-stage refrigeration in mixed refrigerant and cascade refrigeration cycles using one or more liquid motive eductors in combination with a pump.

Abstract: Systems and methods for multi-stage refrigeration in mixed refrigerant and cascade refrigeration cycles using one or more liquid motive eductors.

Abstract: A membrane process is provided for separating light olefins from light paraffins to produce a polymer grade light olefin product stream that is about 99.5 mol % ethylene or propylene. The process involves multiple stages to achieve the high purity product and provides for processing hydrocarbon streams that have differing concentrations of light olefins.

Abstract: A metal exchanged fluorinated ionomer is a copolymer minimally including repeating units of (i) a polymerized derivative of a perfluorinated cyclic or cyclizable monomer and (ii) a strong acid highly fluorinated vinylether compound in which the acid moiety is exchanged with a cation of a Group 11 metal. Metal exchanged fluorinated ionomers are readily soluble and can be formed into thin, selectively gas permeable membranes by solution deposition methods. These membranes are suitable for separating olefins from gas olefin/paraffin mixtures. Good selectivity and transmembrane flux can be obtained without humidifying the membrane feed gas mixture.

Abstract: A method of producing a polymer nanofiber structural body of the present invention includes: forming, on a base material, a first layer in which polymer nanofibers are irregularly integrated by an electrospinning method; cutting the first layer together with the base material; and irradiating an argon beam from a base material side in parallel with a fracture surface to direct the length directions of the polymer nanofibers of the first layer on the base material side toward the thickness direction of the first layer to form a second layer different from the first layer in pore structure, thereby providing a polymer nanofiber structural body having a plurality of pore structures and free of any clear interface.

Abstract: There is provided a process for effecting separation of at least a gaseous permeate-disposed operative material from a gaseous supply material that is being supplied to a gaseous supply material receiving space that is disposed in mass transfer communication with a permeate receiving space through a membrane, the gaseous supply material including an operative material that defines a gaseous supply material-disposed operative material, and the membrane including a gel. The process includes replenishing liquid material that has become depleted from the gel.

Abstract: An enrichment apparatus and process for enriching a hydrogen sulfide concentration in an acid gas stream to create a hydrogen sulfide rich stream for feed to a Claus. The enrichment apparatus comprises a hydrocarbon selective separation unit operable to separate the acid gas stream into a hydrocarbon rich stream and a purified acid gas stream, wherein the acid gas stream comprises hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, and hydrocarbons, a hydrogen sulfide selective separation unit operable to separate the purified acid gas stream to create the hydrogen sulfide rich stream and a hydrogen sulfide lean stream, the hydrogen sulfide rich stream having a concentration of hydrogen sulfide, and the Claus unit operable to recover sulfur from the carbon dioxide lean stream. The enrichment apparatus can include a carbon dioxide selective separation unit in fluid communication with the hydrogen sulfide selective separation unit, operable to separate the hydrogen sulfide rich stream.

Abstract: This invention relates to aromatic block copolyimide polymers comprising both hydroxyl functional groups and carboxylic acid functional groups, their membranes and methods for making and using these polymers and membranes. The aromatic block copolyimide polymer described in the present invention comprises both hydroxyl functional groups and carboxylic acid functional groups. The gas transport properties particularly the selectivities of the aromatic block copolyimide comprising both hydroxyl functional groups and carboxylic acid functional groups were significantly improved compared to those of the aromatic random copolyimide comprising both hydroxyl functional groups and carboxylic acid functional groups.

Abstract: Methods and systems for treating an aqueous effluent from a metathesis reactor, such as a metathesis-based biorefinery, are generally disclosed. In some embodiments, the aqueous effluent is generated from washing the metathesized product with an aqueous medium. In some embodiments, such wash streams are chemically treated to reduce their toxicity and to facilitate disposal. In some embodiments, such wash streams are treated to recover at least a portion of the catalyst residue, so as to facilitate catalyst recovery.

Abstract: In the carbon dioxide separation system, a mixed gas having a carbon dioxide concentration of 3 to 75% is introduced into a primary carbon dioxide separation device equipped with a zeolite membrane for carbon dioxide separation to produce a primary permeated gas having a carbon dioxide concentration of 80% or more on the permeate side of the zeolite membrane and also reduce the carbon dioxide concentration of a primary gas on the non-permeate side of the zeolite membrane to 3 to 15%. Next, the primary gas on the non-permeate side is introduced into a secondary carbon dioxide separation device that employs an amine absorption method or a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) method to produce a secondary separated gas having a carbon dioxide concentration of 80% or more separated by the separation device and also produce a carbon-dioxide-removed gas having a carbon dioxide concentration of 2% or less.

Abstract: A method for recovering olefin includes: an olefin concentrating process of supplying a part or all of an olefin-containing gas containing olefin to an olefin-containing-gas separating unit that includes a separation membrane and causing this olefin-containing gas to transmit the separation membrane so as to obtain an olefin concentrated gas reduced in concentration of a component other than olefin to 1/10 or less compared with a concentration of a component other than olefin in the olefin-containing gas; and a residual-gas combustion process of disposal of residual gas that does not transmit the separation membrane in the olefin concentrating process by burning.

Abstract: The present invention includes a system and method for improving oil recovery from a liquid source of oil, comprising: a membrane contactor in contact with a liquid source of oil; a heating/cooling device connected to at least one of the liquid source of oil or a collection fluid; and a membrane contactor system having one or more membrane contactors having a first and a second surface, wherein at least one of the first or second surfaces coalesce one or more oils from the liquid source of oil allowing the coalesced oil to be collected on the opposite surface of the membrane, wherein a temperature differential between the liquid source of oil and the collection fluid enhances the oil recovery at the membrane contactor from the liquid source of oil.

Abstract: Methods and systems for processing crude oil comprise adding water to the crude oil to produce an emulsion comprising brine and oil and solids; separating oil from brine including producing brine comprising a rag layer; separating the rag layer into a hydrocarbon emulsion having finer solids and brine comprising larger solids; and passing the hydrocarbon emulsion along a cross-flow filter to produce a retentate comprising brine and solids and a permeate comprising hydrocarbon.

Abstract: A process and system for separating and upgrading bio-oil into renewable fuels is provided. The process comprises separating bio-oil into a light fraction and heavy fraction based on their boiling points. The heavy fraction is then subjected to hydrotreatment, while the light fraction is not subjected to hydrotreatment. At least a portion of the un-hydrotreated light fraction and at least a portion of the hydrotreated heavy fraction are blended with petroleum-derived gasoline to thereby provide a renewable gasoline, and at least a portion of the hydrotreated heavy fraction is blended with petroleum-derived diesel to thereby provide a renewable diesel.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods which provide a process stream comprising a gaseous component, capture the gaseous component from the process stream by an ionic liquid solvent of a separator, and recover a captured gaseous component from the ionic liquid solvent in a regenerator. A second gaseous component from the process stream may be captured by the ionic liquid solvent of the separator, and the second gaseous component may be recovered from the ionic liquid solvent in the regenerator. Alternatively, the second gaseous component from the process stream may be uncaptured by the ionic liquid solvent, and the uncaptured second gaseous component may be recovered from a membrane unit.

Abstract: Methods and systems for processing crude oil comprise adding water to the crude oil to produce an emulsion comprising brine and oil and solids; separating oil from brine including producing brine comprising a rag layer; separating the rag layer into a hydrocarbon emulsion having finer solids and brine comprising larger solids; and passing the hydrocarbon emulsion along a cross-flow filter to produce a retentate comprising brine and solids and a permeate comprising hydrocarbon.

Abstract: A metal exchanged fluorinated ionomer is a copolymer minimally including repeating units of (i) a polymerized derivative of a perfluorinated cyclic or cyclizable monomer and (ii) a strong acid highly fluorinated vinylether compound in which the acid moiety is exchanged with a cation of a Group 11 metal. Metal exchanged fluorinated ionomers are readily soluble and can be formed into thin, selectively gas permeable membranes by solution deposition methods. These membranes are suitable for separating olefins from gas olefin/paraffin mixtures. Good selectivity and transmembrane flux can be obtained without humidifying the membrane feed gas mixture.

Abstract: A method for obtaining sweet gas, synthetic gas, and sulphur from natural gas. The method includes the steps of removing impurities from the natural gas for obtaining pre-treated natural gas; sweetening the pre-treated natural gas through a separation using a plurality of membranes for obtaining sweet gas and acid gases; ionizing the acid gases to dissociate them into sulphur and synthetic gas with remnants of acid gases; and neutralizing the synthetic gas with remnants of acid gases for generating sweet gas. Likewise, a system is presented on how to implement the method.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a composite hollow fiber polymer membrane including a porous core layer and a selective sheath layer. The porous core layer includes a polyamide-imide polymer, or a polyetherimide polymer, and the selective sheath layer includes a polyimide polymer, which is prepared from monomers A, B, and C. The monomer A is a dianhydride of the formula wherein X1 and X2 are independently halogenated alkyl group, phenyl or halogen and R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, and R6 are independently H, alkyl, or halogen. The monomer B is a diamino cyclic compound without a carboxylic acid functionality and the monomer C is a diamino cyclic compound with a carboxylic acid functionality. The polyimide polymer further includes covalent ester crosslinks. Also disclosed herein is a method of making the composite polymer membrane and a process for purifying natural gas utilizing the composite polymer membrane.

Abstract: Methods for converting an HF alkylation unit to an ionic liquid alkylation system configured for performing ionic liquid catalyzed alkylation processes may comprise connecting at least one component configured for ionic liquid catalyzed alkylation to at least one component of the HF alkylation unit, wherein the at least one component of the HF alkylation unit is retained, modified or adapted for use in the ionic liquid alkylation system. An ionic liquid alkylation system derived from an existing or prior HF alkylation unit is also disclosed.

Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a process for treating a liquid hydrocarbon stream. The process can include passing the liquid hydrocarbon stream previously contacted with a solvent having an alkanolamine consisting of diethanolamine, a methyl diethanolamine, or a mixture thereof, and an alkali to a vessel. Generally, the vessel contains a coalescing zone for removing at least one of hydrogen sulfide and carbonyl sulfide.

Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a process for removing carbonyl sulfide in a gas phase hydrocarbon stream. The process may include combining the gas phase hydrocarbon stream with another stream including an alkali and an alkanolamine, and passing the combined stream to a prewash zone including a vessel. The gas phase hydrocarbon may include carbonyl sulfide, and the alkali can include at least one of potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, and ammonia. Usually, the vessel contains a contacting zone and a coalescing zone for removing the carbonyl sulfide.

Abstract: A reactor cell for measuring gas and liquid permeation is disclosed. The reactor cell comprises a reactor module having a reactor chamber and a cover. A first hole extends into the reactor chamber from a first surface, a second hole opposing the first hole extends into the reactor chamber from a second surface, a third hole extends into the reactor chamber from a third surface and a fourth hole opposing the third hole extends into the reactor chamber from a fourth surface. A hollow fiber is supported by and sealed into the first and second holes of the reactor module. The first and second ends of the hollow fiber are sealed with a sealing solution. Methods for making and using the reactor cell are also disclosed. As made and used, the reactor cell further comprises a molecular sieving membrane grown on an inner bore surface of the hollow fiber.

Abstract: A process and system for separating and upgrading bio-oil into renewable fuels is provided. The process comprises separating bio-oil into a light fraction, an optional intermediate fraction, and heavy fraction based on their boiling points. The light fraction and optional intermediate fraction can be upgraded via hydrotreatment to produce a renewable gasoline and a renewable diesel, which may be combined with their petroleum-derived counterparts. The heavy fraction may be subjected to cracking and further separated into light, intermediate, and heavy fractions in order to increase the yield of renewable gasoline and renewable diesel.

Abstract: A non-woven low surface energy filter element designed to have improved removal of a dispersed liquid phase from a continuous liquid phase is disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for removal of gas phase contaminants may utilize catalytic oxidation. For example, a method may include passing a gas that includes a gas phase contaminant through a catalytic membrane reactor at a temperature of about 150° C. to about 300° C., wherein the catalytic membrane reactor includes a bundle of tubular inorganic membranes, wherein each of the tubular inorganic membranes comprise a macroporous tubular substrate with an oxidative catalyst and a microporous layer disposed on a bore side of the macroporous tubular substrate, and wherein at least about 50% of the gas flows through the tubular inorganic membranes in a Knudsen flow regime; and oxidizing at least some of the gas phase contaminant with the oxidative catalyst layer, thereby reducing a concentration of the gas phase contaminant in the gas.

Abstract: Helium-containing natural gas is processed with three gas separation stages to produce a natural gas product and a Helium-containing gas that may be injected into the reservoir from which the Helium-containing natural gas is obtained. A permeate from the first gas separation membrane stage is compressed and fed to the second gas membrane stage. The permeate from the second gas separation membrane stage is recovered as the Helium-containing gas that may be injected into the reservoir. The non-permeate from the second gas separation membrane stage is fed to the third gas separation membrane stage. Non-permeates from the first and third gas separation stages are combined to produce a natural gas product. A permeate from the third gas separation membrane stage is combined with a non-permeate from the first gas separation membrane stage before it is compressed and fed to the second gas separation membrane stage.

Abstract: The present invention includes methods and systems for improving oil quality of a contaminated oil mixture by removing contaminants from a contaminated oil comprising the steps of: pretreating a membrane contactor system having a first and a second surface with an hydrophobic liquid, wherein the hydrophobic liquid is contacted to at least one of the first and second surfaces; obtaining a contaminated oil that comprises oil and lipophobic contaminants; contacting the contaminated oil onto a first surface of one or more membrane contactors to coalesce the oil on the first surface; and collecting the coalesced oil from the contaminated oil on the second surface of the membrane contactor.

Abstract: A process comprising receiving a hydrocarbon feed stream comprising carbon dioxide, separating the hydrocarbon feed stream into a light hydrocarbon stream and a heavy hydrocarbon stream, separating the light hydrocarbon stream into a carbon dioxide-rich stream and a carbon dioxide-lean stream, and feeding the carbon dioxide-lean stream into a hydrocarbon sweetening process, thereby increasing the processing capacity of the hydrocarbon sweetening process compared to the processing capacity of the hydrocarbon sweetening process when fed the hydrocarbon feed stream.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for biogas treatment, wherein the gas originating from a fermentation is separated into a usable biogas stream consisting essentially of methane gas and into an exhaust gas stream containing undesired substances, said exhaust gas stream being thermally or catalytically oxidized. According to the invention, the exhaust gas stream is guided prior to oxidation through closed storage containers and/or fermentation residue containers for the inertization of explosive gas concentrations resulting there.