NOVELTY - Separating (M1) a linear hexane stream from a hydrocarbon feed (12) comprising unbranched 4-7C hydrocarbons, comprises: (a) isomerizing the hydrocarbon feed in presence of hydrogen to produce an isomerized hydrocarbon stream (20); (b) separating the isomerized hydrocarbon stream into at least an isomerate product stream and hexane-containing raffinate stream comprising linear hexane; (c) separating linear hexane stream from at least a portion of hexane-containing raffinate stream to produce e.g. linear hexane stream; and (d) isolating linear hexane stream as independent product stream.    USE - The method is useful for separating linear hexane stream from a hydrocarbon feed (claimed), where the separated linear hexane is useful: as a solvent to extract cooking oils from seeds, and to produce biofuel from biomass; and for manufacturing textile.    ADVANTAGE - The method provides the linear hexane stream, which exhibits low benzene content and high purity, hence it can be used in food-grade applications.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - Separating (M1) a linear hexane stream from a hydrocarbon feed (12) comprising unbranched 4-7C hydrocarbons, comprises: (a) isomerizing the hydrocarbon feed in the presence of hydrogen to produce an isomerized hydrocarbon stream (20) comprising branched hydrocarbons and linear hexane; (b) separating the isomerized hydrocarbon stream into at least an isomerate product stream comprising branched hydrocarbons, and a hexane-containing raffinate stream comprising linear hexane; (c) separating the linear hexane stream from at least a portion of the hexane-containing raffinate stream to produce the linear hexane stream and a hexane-depleted raffinate stream; and (d) isolating the linear hexane stream as an independent product stream, where the linear hexane stream contains less than or equal to 3 ppm levels of benzene. The step (c) comprises splitting the hexane-containing raffinate stream into a recycle stream and a recovery stream, where the linear hexane stream is separated from the recovery stream. INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are also included for:    (1) separating (M2) the linear hexane stream from the hydrocarbon feed, comprising: (a1) isomerizing the hydrocarbon feed in the presence of hydrogen and in an isomerization stage (14) comprising an isomerization catalyst to produce the isomerized hydrocarbon stream; (b1) performing the step (b) as above per se in an isomerate separation stage in fluid communication with the isomerization stage; (c1) splitting the hexane-containing raffinate stream into a recycle stream and a recovery stream; (d1) separating the linear hexane stream from the recovery stream in a hexane separation stage different from and in fluid communication with the isomerate separation stage to produce the linear hexane stream and a hexane-depleted raffinate stream; (e1) returning the recycle stream to the isomerization stage; the step (d) as above per se; and (f1) returning the hexane-depleted raffinate stream to the isomerization stage, where the step of isomerizing the hydrocarbon feed comprises isomerizing the hydrocarbon feed, the recycle stream, and the hexane-depleted raffinate stream; and    (2) an isomerization apparatus (10) comprising: an isomerization unit (18) for receiving the hydrocarbon feed and isomerizing the hydrocarbon feed to produce an isomerized hydrocarbon stream; an isomerate separation unit in fluid communication with the isomerization unit for receiving the isomerized hydrocarbon stream and separating the isomerized hydrocarbon stream into an isomerate product stream and a hexane-containing raffinate stream; and a linear hexane separation unit in fluid communication with the hexane-containing raffinate stream from the isomerate separation unit for receiving the hexane-containing raffinate stream, separating a linear hexane stream from at least a portion of the hexane-containing raffinate stream, and isolating the linear hexane stream as an independent product stream.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows a schematic view of the isomerization apparatus.    Isomerization apparatus (10)    Hydrocarbon feed (12)    Isomerization stage (14)    Isomerization unit (18)    Isomerized hydrocarbon stream (20)