Ethylene and propylene producers have faced the challenge of contaminants for decades. As catalyst technology for the production of polymers advances, the need for high-purity olefin process streams has become even more critical. The sensitivity to deactivation of the new generation of high activity/yield polymerization catalysts currently applied in the production of polyethylene, polypropylene and polystyrene mandates the removal of all trace contaminants in the feed streams to ultra-low effluent specifications.

Contaminants of concern include H2O, CO2, COS, H2S, NH3, oxygenated hydrocarbons (alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, peroxides, ethers, etc.) and even AsH3, PH3. Selective adsorbents, both molecular sieve and modified alumina-based adsorbents, have been successfully used to help olefin producers manage their operations as contaminated feeds and increasingly sensitive polymerization catalysts continue to offer them increasing challenges. Ultra-low effluent specifications for these concerned contaminants are attainable with the use of PURSORB® selective adsorbents in either a regenerative or non-regenerative operating mode.