Pressure swing adsorption process for chlorine plant offgas

摘要

A process is provided for the removal and recovery of chlorine from a chlorine plant offgas stream. A pressure swing adsorption (PSA) process is used to remove from the chlorine plant offgas a vent gas stream comprising hydrogen and a tail gas stream comprising chlorine which is subsequently liquefied. The PSA zone comprises at least 2 adsorption beds, wherein each of the adsorption beds contains a weak adsorbent selective for the adsorption of chlorine and the PSA process is operated with a short cycle having an adsorption time of less than about 6 minutes. The vent gas withdrawn from the process is essentially free of chlorine and a liquefied chlorine product is recovered. The process provides an economic and efficient way of removing chlorine from a chlorine plant offgas stream without requiring a vacuum pump or heat removal equipment.