A method is provided for refining an argon gas, in which oxygen is added to the argon gas containing hydrogen, carbon monoxide (CO), and oxygen as impurities so that the hydrogen and the CO are converted into water and carbon dioxide in a catalyst tower, or hydrogen is added to the argon gas so that the oxygen is converted into the water; the method including: monitoring the hydrogen, the CO, and the oxygen on an outlet side of the catalyst tower; and at least one of adding the oxygen to the argon gas when any one of the hydrogen and the CO is detected on the outlet side of the catalyst tower, and adding the hydrogen when the oxygen is detected, wherein the oxygen or the hydrogen to be added is intermittently added to the catalyst tower relative to continuous supply of the argon gas to the catalyst tower.

According to one embodiment, a gas recovering apparatus includes a casing and a tube. The casing is provided with an inlet through which a gas flows in, a first outlet for discharging a first gas containing a gas to be recovered of the gas, and a second outlet for discharging a second gas other than the first gas of the gas. The casing is evacuated via the first outlet. The tube is provided in the casing from the inlet to the second outlet, and has a high permeability to the first gas and a low permeability to the second gas.

Xenon based biosensors have the potential to detect and localize biomarkers associated with a wide variety of diseases. The development and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) characterization of cage molecules which encapsulate hyperpolarized xenon is imperative for the development of these xenon biosensors. We acquired .sup.129Xe NMR spectra, and magnetic resonance images and a HyperCEST saturation map of cucurbituril (CB6) in whole bovine blood. We observed a mean HyperCEST depletion of 84% (n=5) at a concentration of 5 mM and 74% at 2.5 mM. Additionally, we collected these data using a pulsed HyperCEST saturation pre-pulse train with a SAR of 0.025 W/kg which will minimize any potential RF heating in animal or human tissue.

Xenon based biosensors have the potential to detect and localize biomarkers associated with a wide variety of diseases. The development and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) characterization of cage molecules which encapsulate hyperpolarized xenon is imperative for the development of these xenon biosensors. We acquired .sup.129Xe NMR spectra, and magnetic resonance images and a HyperCEST saturation map of cucurbituril (CB6) in whole bovine blood. We observed a mean HyperCEST depletion of 84% (n=5) at a concentration of 5 mM and 74% at 2.5 mM. Additionally, we collected these data using a pulsed HyperCEST saturation pre-pulse train with a SAR of 0.025 W/kg which will minimize any potential RF heating in animal or human tissue.

In a helium purification process, a stream containing at least 10% of helium, at least 10% of nitrogen in addition to hydrogen and methane is separated to form a helium-enriched stream containing hydrogen, a first stream enriched in nitrogen and in methane and a second stream enriched in nitrogen and in methane, the helium-enriched stream is treated to produce a helium-rich product and a residual gas containing water, the residual gas is treated by adsorption (TSA) to remove the water and the regeneration gas from the adsorption is sent to a combustion unit (O).

A method for extending useful life of a sorbent for purifying a gas by sorption of an impurity is provided. The method generating a electrical discharge within the gas to obtain a spectral emission representative of a concentration of the impurity. The method also includes monitoring the concentration of the impurity according to the spectral emission. The method also includes lowering the concentration of the impurity by conversion of at least a portion of the impurity into a secondary impurity having a greater affinity to the sorbent than the impurity. The method also includes comparing the concentration of the impurity to a polluting concentration and managing the sorption of the gas onto the sorbent according to the comparison.

Methods and systems for producing Xenon-133 are disclosed. A method for producing Xenon-133 includes collecting an off gas from a Molybdenum-99 production process in a storage tank. The off gas includes Xenon-133 and Krypton-85. The method further includes selectively adsorbing Xenon-133 from the off gas onto a charcoal column assembly such that Xenon-133 is selectively adsorbed onto the charcoal column assembly relative to Krypton-85. The method further includes desorbing the Xenon-133 from the charcoal column assembly by heating the charcoal column assembly, and condensing the Xenon-133 within a coil assembly.

A gas separation method in which a rare as a first introduced gas and an impurity gas as a second introduced gas, are introduced into a raw material gas. Each of the flow rates of the first and second introduced gases is controlled based on the flow rates of the rare gas and impurity gas in the discharged gas from a rare gas using facility. A gas separation device includes an introduction pipe for introducing rare gas in a separation gas container into a raw material gas, an introduction pipe for introducing impurity gases in the separation gas container into the raw material gas, a flow meter provided in a supply pipe for supplying a discharged gas of a rare gas using facility, and an arithmetic device electrically connected to each of the flow meter the flow rate controller, and the flow rate controller.

A gas separation method in which a rare as a first introduced gas and an impurity gas as a second introduced gas, are introduced into a raw material gas. Each of the flow rates of the first and second introduced gases is controlled based on the flow rates of the rare gas and impurity gas in the discharged gas from a rare gas using facility. A gas separation device includes an introduction pipe for introducing rare gas in a separation gas container into a raw material gas, an introduction pipe for introducing impurity gases in the separation gas container into the raw material gas, a flow meter provided in a supply pipe for supplying a discharged gas of a rare gas using facility, and an arithmetic device electrically connected to each of the flow meter the flow rate controller, and the flow rate controller.

A process for recovery of helium from one or more than one helium-containing off-gas streams comprises preconditioning off-gas through a multi-stage preconditioning device, cryogenically separating a helium-enriched gas fraction from the preconditioned off-gas received from the preconditioning device a cryogenic separation device, and purifying the helium-enriched gas fraction received from the cryogenic separation device using a purification device so as to obtain purified helium gas with a higher helium content than the helium-enriched gas.