The invention relates to a process and apparatus for separation of gas mixtures with reduced maintenance costs. The process and the apparatus consist of a feed stream separation stage (1), and a retentate separation stage (2), of which both are membrance separation stages, wherein the first retentate stream (7) is heated to temperature higher than the temperature of the feed stream (5), before it is introduced to the retentate separation stage (2), and the total capacity of the membranes used in the retentate separation stage (2) is higher than the total capacity of the membranes used in the feed stream stage (1).

In a method for operating an adsorption device a laden gas stream is fed to an inlet of a sorption buffer device. In the device the laden gas stream passes through a sorbent for receiving a loading of sorbable substance along a sorption path from the inlet to an outlet. The sorbable substance passes from the gas stream to the sorbent, or vice versa, depending on the loading of the gas stream and the sorbent. During a phase of elevated loading, a region with an elevated loading of the sorbent extends from the inlet along the sorption path. During a phase of reduced loading, the region with the elevated loading of the sorbent is shifted in the direction toward the outlet. Length of the sorption path and quantity of the sorbent in the sorption buffer device are selected for accommodating at least three different regions of elevated loading.

A process chamber, such as for semiconductor processing equipment, is connected with a recovery unit. The recovery unit includes a first storage tank for buffer gas and a second storage tank for rare gas. Both storage tanks are connected with a column in the recovery unit. The recovery unit and process chamber can operate as a closed system. The rare gas can be transported at a variable flow rate while separation in the recovery unit operates at a constant flow condition.

A xenon capture system that reduces the concentration of xenon in a carrier gas is disclosed. An example xenon capture system includes a carrier gas with a first concentration of xenon that flows through an intake into a chamber. Within the chamber is a reaction area that has at least one peripheral sidewall. The reaction area operates at a predetermined temperature, flow rate, and low pressure. Within the reaction area is at least one xenon capture mechanism that is at least partially formed of a transition metal. When the carrier gas is exposed to the xenon capture mechanism, the xenon capture mechanism adsorbs xenon from the carrier gas. The carrier gas, with a second concentration of xenon, exits the chamber through the exhaust outlet.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to systems and methods for regenerating a sorbent material of a scrubber, configured for scrubbing a contaminant from indoor air from an enclosed space. Some embodiments include a sorbent material portion (SMP) including a sorbent material, which may be configured to be cycled between an adsorption phase for adsorbing a contaminant from indoor air, and a regeneration phase configured for releasing at least a portion of the contaminant adsorbed by the sorbent material during the adsorption phase thereof, via temperature swing adsorption, into a purging airflow.

Recovering helium from a gaseous stream includes contacting an acid gas removal membrane with a gaseous stream to yield a permeate stream and a residual stream, removing a majority of the acid gas from the residual stream to yield a first acid gas stream and a helium depleted clean gas stream, removing a majority of the acid gas from the permeate stream to yield a second acid gas stream and a helium rich stream, and removing helium from the helium rich stream to yield a helium product stream and a helium depleted stream. A helium removal system for removing helium from a gaseous stream including hydrocarbon gas, acid gas, and helium includes a first processing zone including a first acid gas removal unit, a second processing zone including a second acid gas removal unit, a third processing zone, and a helium purification unit.

An ultrathin high permselectivity carbon molecular sieve membrane (CMSM) for industrial gas separations is provided. The CMSM includes porous metal or ceramic supports to provide superior stability at high temperatures, pressures and chemical environments. The CMSM also offers the potential for cost-effective gas processing while overcoming disadvantages found in alternative media that are fragile and susceptible to shock due to thermal cycling and prone to end-sealing problems under industrial conditions.

A method for producing a laminated complex according to one embodiment of the present invention is a method for producing a laminated complex that includes a sheet-shaped or tube-shaped porous support and a semipermeable membrane layer stacked on an outer surface of the support, the method including a coating step of coating an outer surface of the support with a semipermeable membrane layer-forming composition in which a fluororesin is dispersed in a solvent; an immersing step of immersing the coated surface of the support in water after the coating step; and a heating step of heating water in which the support is immersed.

A GIS-type zeolite, having a diffraction peak of (1 0 1) at a diffraction angle 2=12.55 to 12.90 in a spectrum obtained by X-ray diffraction.

Porous materials (such as organic polyamine cage compounds) and methods of stabilising porous materials which are otherwise prone to pore-collapse are described. Such stabilisation is accomplished through the use of molecular ties to create bridges between reactive groups of a (potentially) porous material to thereby strengthen and stabilise the porous structure. The chemistry involved in, and the results of, the stabilisation of porous materials to provide a new sorption composition comprising the very materials which are generally prone to pore-collapse are also described.