A method and system for collecting xenon (Xe) is described. A microchannel heat exchanger is used in combination with a mechanical cooler and an absorbent. A combination of components makes up a Xe Collection Subsystem that is adapted for use in an efficient process for collecting, purifying, and measuring Xe isotopes collected from air as part of the International Monitoring System.

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 method and system for collecting xenon (Xe) is described. A microchannel heat exchanger is used in combination with a mechanical cooler and an absorbent. A combination of components makes up a Xe Collection Subsystem that is adapted for use in an efficient process for collecting, purifying, and measuring Xe isotopes collected from air as part of the International Monitoring System.

A method of producing an oxide of manganese including reacting, in a first aqueous solution, a manganese salt and an alkali agent to form manganese hydroxide; separating the manganese hydroxide from the first solution; mixing the manganese hydroxide into an aqueous medium to form a manganese hydroxide suspension; mixing the manganese hydroxide suspension with alkali metal hydroxide to form a second aqueous solution; and oxidizing the manganese hydroxide in the second aqueous solution to form an oxide of manganese. The dried oxide of manganese includes birnessite, a maximum of 20% hausmannite, and a maximum of 10% feitknechtite, may further include a maximum of 400 ppm of anions, may have a specific surface area of at least 25 m2/g, and may have an average oxidation state of greater than 3.5.

Oxygen production process of VSA type from a flow of air, implementing at least one group of at least 3 adsorbers installed in parallel and following the same VSA cycle comprising, in succession, a phase of adsorption at the high pressure of the cycle, a phase of desorption at pressures lower than the high pressure of the cycle, a phase of repressurization of the adsorber to the high pressure of the cycle, characterized in that, periodically or exceptionally: a) at least one adsorber of the group of adsorbers is isolated so as to no longer follow the pressure cycle, b) the adsorbent contained in the adsorber isolated in the step a) is regenerated by raising the temperature, and c) the adsorber regenerated in the step b) is re-incorporated in the group of adsorbers so as to once again follow the pressure cycle.

A method and system for collecting xenon (Xe) is described. A microchannel heat exchanger is used in combination with a mechanical cooler and an absorbent. A combination of components makes up a Xe Collection Subsystem that is adapted for use in an efficient process for collecting, purifying, and measuring Xe isotopes collected from air as part of the International Monitoring System.

The invention relates to a membrane separation process for energy-efficient generation of oxygen from fresh air. In the process, mixed conducting membranes in vacuum operation are used, the fresh air is discharged as waste air after separation of the oxygen, at least 85% of the thermal energy required for heating the fresh air is acquired by utilizing the waste heat of the waste air and/or of the obtained oxygen, the rest of the heating of the fresh air being realized through external energy supply, and a ratio of fresh air to generated oxygen in normal operation is adjusted to a range of from 6:1 to 25:1.

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.

An integrated industrial unit is provided, which can include: a nitrogen source comprising an air separation unit that is configured to provide pressurized gaseous nitrogen and liquid nitrogen; a hydrogen source; a hydrogen liquefaction unit, wherein the hydrogen liquefaction unit comprises a precooling system, and a liquefaction system; and a liquid hydrogen storage tank, wherein the precooling system is configured to receive the gaseous hydrogen from the hydrogen source and cool the gaseous hydrogen to a temperature between 70K and 100K, wherein the precooling system comprises a primary refrigeration system and a secondary refrigeration system, wherein the liquefaction system is in fluid communication with the precooling system and is configured to liquefy the gaseous hydrogen received from the precooling system to produce liquid hydrogen, wherein the liquid hydrogen storage tank is in fluid communication with the liquefaction system and is configured to store the liquid hydrogen received from the liquefaction system.