Disclosed herein are new processes for adsorbing oxygen using adsorbent compositions comprising RHO zeolites kinetically selective for oxygen. The RHO zeolites can be used in pressure swing adsorption processes for separating oxygen from oxygen containing streams, such as for, but not limited to, purifying a crude argon feed stream or separating oxygen from an air feed stream.

A method and apparatus for argon recovery in which an impure argon stream is separated from air within a cryogenic air separation unit having a divided wall argon rejection/rectification column. The resulting argon stream is subsequently recovered and purified within an integrated pressure swing adsorption system to produce product grade argon.

A plant for producing an argon-rich stream from a mixture formed by a purge fluid from a plant for producing ammonia comprises at least two methane scrubbing columns upstream of a methane separation column and, downstream therefrom, a nitrogen/argon separation column.

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.

An argon gas recovering and purifying method including: introducing waste argon gas containing nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon monoxide from silicon single crystal manufacturing apparatus into waste argon gas storage tank; removing solid matters in pretreatment facility which removes the solid matters in waste argon gas; converting oxygen into water and converting carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide by catalytic reaction; removing the water, the carbon dioxide, and the nitrogen to obtain recovered gas, in the argon gas recovering and purifying method and an argon gas recovering and purifying apparatus, the catalytic reaction is carried out with compression heat alone by arranging a catalyst in a two-stage compressor, and the water is removed by a dryer in advance and then the nitrogen and the carbon dioxide are adsorbed and removed in an ordinary-temperature adsorption tower at the step of obtaining the recovered gas.

The invention relates to a gas purifier that removes moisture and oxygen from inert gases and reducing gases, for example, at sub-atmospheric pressures. The purifier can remove part per million levels of moisture in a gas stream to less than 100 parts per trillion by volume, and has a low pressure drop and a sharp breakthrough curve.

A method and apparatus for producing a purified liquid argon product in which liquid argon having oxygen impurities is produced in a cryogenic air separation plant by separating argon from oxygen within an argon column. An impure liquid argon stream, composed of part of the liquid argon, is purified in an adsorbent bed by adsorbing the oxygen impurities in an adsorbent to produce a purified liquid argon stream that constitutes the purified liquid argon product. During adsorption, the adsorbent bed is maintained at a reduced temperature with a coolant to prevent vaporization of the liquid argon. The bed is then regenerated by draining residual liquid argon from the adsorbent bed, introducing the residual liquid argon back into the air separation plant and then desorbing the oxygen impurities with a regeneration gas. After regeneration, the adsorbent bed is refilled with purified liquid argon prior to being brought back on-line.

A method and apparatus for producing a purified liquid argon product in which liquid argon having oxygen impurities is produced in a cryogenic air separation plant by separating argon from oxygen within an argon column. An impure liquid argon stream, composed of part of the liquid argon, is purified in an adsorbent bed by adsorbing the oxygen impurities in an adsorbent to produce a purified liquid argon stream that constitutes the purified liquid argon product. During adsorption, the adsorbent bed is maintained at a reduced temperature with a coolant to prevent vaporization of the liquid argon. The bed is then regenerated by draining residual liquid argon from the adsorbent bed, introducing the residual liquid argon back into the air separation plant and then desorbing the oxygen impurities with a regeneration gas. After regeneration, the adsorbent bed is refilled with purified liquid argon prior to being brought back on-line.

The invention relates to a gas purifier that removes moisture and oxygen from inert gases and reducing gases, for example, at sub-atmospheric pressures. The purifier can remove part per million levels of moisture in a gas stream to less than 100 parts per trillion by volume, and has a low pressure drop and a sharp breakthrough curve.

The present invention generally relates to a method to enhance heat transfer in the temperature swing adsorption process (TSA) and to an intensified TSA process for gas/liquid purification or bulk separation. Helium is designed as the heat carrier media to directly bring heat/cool to the adsorbent bed during the TSA cycling process. With helium's superior heat conductivity, the time consuming regeneration steps (warming, regeneration and precooling) of TSA process can be significantly reduced and allowing for the TSA process to be intensified.