Process for removing nitrous oxide from a gas stream

A process for the removal of nitrous oxide (N2O) from a gas stream containing a contaminating concentration of nitrous oxide, wherein said process comprises:

• (a) passing said gas stream through a heat transfer zone containing a heat transfer material of a high heat capacity whereby heat is transferred from said heat transfer material to said gas stream to thereby provide a heated gas stream;
• (b) passing said heated gas stream to a reaction zone containing a N2O decomposition catalyst that provides for the decomposition of nitrous oxide and yielding therefrom a gas stream having a reduced concentration of nitrous oxide;
• (c) passing said gas stream having said reduced concentration of nitrous oxide to a second reaction zone containing a second N2O decomposition catalyst wherein nitrous oxide is decomposed to yield a gas stream having a further reduced concentration of nitrous oxide;
• and
• (d) passing said gas stream having said further reduced concentration of nitrous oxide to a second heat transfer zone containing a second heat transfer material of a second high heat capacity whereby heat is transferred from said gas stream having said further reduced concentration of nitrous oxide to said second heat transfer material to thereby provide a cooled gas stream.