Two-stage method for recovering halogenated hydrocarbons

Process for recovering fluorinated inhalation anesthetics,

• wherein in a desorption step an adsorbent comprising adsorbed fluorinated inhalation anesthetics is streamed through by water vapor, resulting in a secondary volume flow comprising fluorinated inhalation anesthetics,
• and wherein the secondary volume flow is converted by cooling into a condensate containing fluorinated inhalation anesthetics and water, from which the fluorinated inhalation anesthetics are separated,
• characterized in that
• in a sterilization step preceding the desorption step, the adsorbent comprising adsorbed fluorinated inhalation anesthetics is
• for at least 10 min,
• at a temperature of more than 120° C., and
• at a pressure of from 0.15 MPa to 0.4 MPa, brought into contact with water vapor,
• wherein the sterilization step and the desorption step are performed in direct sequence in the same installation,
• wherein the sterilization step and the desorption step are performed in a desorption vessel (100), and wherein the desorption vessel (100) comprises a steam inlet (110) and a steam outlet (120), and the adsorbent is arranged in the desorption vessel (100) between the steam inlet (110) and the steam outlet (120) such that steam entering the desorption vessel (100) through the steam inlet (110) must flow through the adsorbent before it leaves the desorption vessel (100) through the steam outlet (120), and
• wherein the desorption vessel (100) comprises a valve (140) subsequent to the steam outlet (120), wherein the valve (140) is closed during the sterilization step and is open during the desorption step.