Question

Explain the separation of Alkane/alkene mixtures

Answer 1

Theory: alkanes and alkenes are separated using adsorption process.

Detailed Solution:

Alkanes are molecules without any double bond while alkenes are molecules with atleast one double bond. Due to difference if just one double bond, alkanes and alkenes posses not very different volatile properties.

Although diatillation is also a common process to separate alkane from alkene but due to very little difference in volatile properties, size of diatillation column increases andait becomea too costly to separate these. Another importantiand Primary technique to separate these components is adsorption ( more precisely a pressure swing adsorption). In adsorption process a high surface area adsorbent like Zeolite molecular sieve or sillica gel is selected. Due to high surface area, adsorption efficiency is higher for these adsorbents.mixture of alkane and alkenes is passed in an adsorption column where alkene molecules are adsorbed on the adsorbent and alkanes gas come out of the column which is very lean in alkenes.

I hope I was very detailed in explaining you the separation of these molecules. Please let me know if you need any further clarification. If you are satisfied then kindly rate me.