A METHOD OF REMOVING NITROUS OXIDE

摘要

Hydroxylamine is formed in a reactor through a partial hydrogenation of nitric oxide gas (NO) with hydrogen gas (H<SUB>2</SUB>) in an aqueous medium with nitrogen gas (N<SUB>2</SUB>) as an inert gas. The formation of the hydroxylamine forms nitrous oxide gas (N<SUB>2</SUB>O). The gases and the water vapor are flowed away from the reactor in a vent gas stream enabling recycling of the gases. The N<SUB>2</SUB>O is removed from the vent gas stream to reduce flammability. The method of removing N<SUB>2</SUB>O comprises the steps of (a) flowing the vent gas through a nitrous oxide adsorbent material comprising particles such that the N<SUB>2</SUB>O is adsorbed onto the particles; (b) forming a buffer zone comprising N<SUB>2</SUB> adjacent to the nitrous oxide adsorbent material; (c) flowing additional N2O through the nitrous oxide adsorbent material to displace the other gas; and (d) desorbing the N<SUB>2</SUB>O from the nitrous oxide adsorbent material. Once the N<SUB>2</SUB>O is removed, the NO, H<SUB>2</SUB>, and N<SUB>2</SUB> are recycled and re-used in the reactor to form additional hydroxylamine. The N<SUB>2</SUB>O removed from the vent gas stream is of high purity and can be commercially sold or economically discarded.