| 摘要 |
The present invention provides a process for purifying argon in simplified steps and with low energy consumption. Oxygen is added to argon gas containing nitrogen, carbon monoxide, oxygen and methane as impurities. Carbon monoxide is oxidized into carbon dioxide in the presence of a catalyst in a carbon monoxide oxidation tower 31. Hydrogen is added to the argon gas to react oxygen with the hydrogen into water in the presence of a catalyst in a deoxo tower 33. The carbon dioxide and the water are removed from the argon gas in a water and carbon-dioxide removing unit 50 by use of an adsorbent. After cooled and liquefied in a main heat exchanger 60, the liquified argon is introduced into a distillation column 70 to perform distillation by use of a reflux containing argon as a main component. Nitrogen-condensed argon gas is withdrawn from a top portion 76 of the distillation column and methane-condensed liquid argon is withdrawn from the bottom 77, and then, high-purity argon gas is recovered from a gaseous phase of the middle stage. <IMAGE> |
