Hydrocarbon isomerization and separation process

Claim 2

The process of claim 1 further characterized in that said solid sorbent is a zeolitic molecular sieve-type sorbent.

Claim 3

The process of claim 3 further characterized in that said sorbent selectively adsorbs normal hydrocarbons and rejects branched chain and cyclic hydrocarbons.

Claim 4

A process for isomerizing and separating a lower octane isomerizable hydrocarbon charge stock containing hydrocarbons having from about five to six carbon atoms per molecule to produce a higher octane branched hydrocarbons product, which process comprises the steps of: a. contacting said charge stock with hydrogen and with a composite comprising a refractory inorganic oxide component, a platinum group metal component and a combined halogen component, in an isomerization zone at isomerization condition; b. separating the effluent from said isomerization zone into a hydrogen-rich gaseous phase and a liquid isomerate phase; c. separating said isomerate phase in a sorption zone, utilizing a solid zeolite sorbent, to provide a normal hydrocarbons stream and a branched hydrocarbons stream and introducing said normal hydrocarbons stream into said isomerization zone; d. fractionating said branched hydrocarbons stream to provide a product stream comprising isopentane and dimethylbutanes, a recycle stream comprising methylpentane, and a bottoms stream comprising methylcyclopentane and cyclohexane, and recovering said products stream as said branched hydrocarbons product; and, (e) withdrawing said bottoms stream from the process and introducing at least a portion of said recycle stream into said isomerization zone.