There is provided with a process for separating normal paraffins from
hydrocarbons of C.sub.5-10 using zeolite molecular sieve 5A, which
comprises the steps of (a) selective adsorption (b) cocurrent purge (c)
countercurrent desorption. The present process employs butane for purge
and desorption step to achieve excellent desorption efficiency and
recycles butane in liquid phase to reduce the investment cost. The optimum
operating conditions for feedstock change and adsorption capacity
reduction are determined by NIR system for on-line monitoring and control.
The separated normal paraffins can be efficiently applied to raw material
for ethylene production and the separated non-normal paraffins can be
efficiently applied to raw material for aromatic hydrocarbons production.
