Krypton and xenon recovery from synthesis of residual gases - by catalytic hydrogenation of higher boiling hydrocarbon(s) to methane

摘要

In Kr and Xe recovery from ammonia- or methanol-synthesis residual gases including hydrocarbons of higher boiling pt. than methane, in which the Kr, Xe and higher boiling hydrocarbons are initially enriched in a methane fraction, the novelty is that this methane fraction is subjected to catalytic hydrogenation or hydrogenate the higher boiling hydrocarbons to methane prior to feeding to a conventional final treatment process for high purity Kr and Xe recovery. ADVANTAGE - The higher boiling hydrocarbons, which are enriched simultaneously with the Kr and Xe, are converted to stable methane, thus allowing recovery of high purity Kr and Xe, individually or combined, by conventional final treatment processes.