SUITABLE DISTILLATION PACKING FOR THE CRYOGENIC SEPARATION OF AIR

摘要

This invention relates to a process for the cryogenic separation of oxygen-containing mixtures to produce an enriched product whereby oxygen concentrations greater than 21% by volume are achieved in the process via passing streams of liquid and vapor countercurrently through a mass transfer zone which contains packing elements fabricated from a material having a thickness of less than about 1 millimeter, having a copper concentration of at least about 30% by weight and a heat of combustion of less than 1.0 Kcal/g, thereby avoiding the risk of flammability.