Abstract: A process for the separation of CO.sub.2 from gases containing light hydrocarbons and a relatively high proportion of CO.sub.2 comprises a two stage fractionation procedure. In a first fractionating stage, the entire amount of C.sub.1 and C.sub.2 hydrocarbons are separated from the gaseous mixture; the resultant bottoms fraction, which contains the C.sub.3+ hydrocarbons and CO.sub.2, is pumped to a higher pressure and further distilled in a second fractionating stage. During this process, the head cooling of the second fractionating stage is coupled with the bottoms heating of the first fractionating stage.

Abstract: In the purification of a hydrogen stream contaminated with at least methane and ethane, e.g. a hydrogen cycle gas from a coal hydrogenation process, where the hydrogen stream is subjected to multistage partial condensation and separation of the respectively formed condensates, the improvement of subjecting the hydrogen stream under a pressure of above about 100 bar to the multistage partial condensation and separation of having in the final condensate 5-40 molar percent of ethane, thereby favorably altering the K-value of methane and its ease of removal from the hydrogen which is only altered in the manner desired when the process is conducted under pressures in excess of about 100 bar.