Removal of gaseous contaminants from argon

摘要

A method for argon recovery comprising
(a) providing a feed gas mixture comprising argon and at least one of nitrogen and methane;
(b) contacting at least a portion of the feed gas mixture with a nitrogen-selective adsorbent and/or a methane-selective adsorbent in a cyclic pressure swing adsorption process including
(b1) adsorbing at least a portion of the nitrogen on the nitrogen-selective adsorbent in a first pressure range above atmospheric pressure to provide a purified argon product and an adsorbent comprising adsorbed nitrogen and/or
(b2) adsorbing at least a portion of the methane on the methane-selective adsorbent in the first pressure range above atmospheric pressure to provide a purified argon product and an adsorbent comprising adsorbed methane;
(c) and desorbing the adsorbed nitrogen and/or the adsorbed methane in one or more regeneration steps effected in a second pressure range between atmospheric pressure and a super-atmospheric pressure below any pressure in the first pressure range, inclusive;
wherein the cyclic pressure swing adsorption process is effected at an average operating temperature of at least about 0°C.