US 4,322,394 A · Adsorbent regeneration and gas separation utilizing microwave heating

Abstract

Dielectric heating with microwaves of saturated solid noncarbon adsorbents to remove the adsorbed materials results in more rapid, efficient and safe regeneration than conventional heating. The microwaves heat the adsorbents internally and in the absence of spark discharges without thermal and mechanical degradation of the adsorbent, and also in the absence of activating gas bring the adsorbents to a temperature sufficient to desorb the adsorbate. Separation of a gas mixture into two concentrated streams of its components is enabled by adsorption of one fraction by a selective adsorbent followed by removal of that fraction with dielectric heating and little or no purge gas. Useful by-products of the separation process are thereby economically recovered.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A process for the rapid, efficient regeneration of a saturated solid noncarbon adsorbent without thermal or mechanical degradation of the adsorbent which comprises heating the adsorbent internally and in the absence of spark discharges with microwaves between 300 MHz and 300 GHz frequency in the adsorber reactor chamber and in the absence of added activating gas to a temperature sufficient to desorb the adsorbate.

A process for rapidly separating a fluid mixture into two concentrated streams by an adsorption-regeneration process which comprises:

(a) passing said fluid mixture in contact with a solid noncarbon adsorbent in an adsorber reactor chamber to preferentially adsorb at least one chemical component of said mixture;
(b) collecting a concentrated first fluid stream which remains from said fluid mixture after absorption of said chemical component by said absorbent;
(c) temporarily halting the flow of said fluid mixture passing in contact with said adsorbent;
(d) heating said absorbent internally and in the absence of spark discharges and in the absence of added activating gas in the adsorber reactor chamber with microwaves between 300 MHz and 300 GHz frequency to a temperature at which said adsorbed chemical component is desorbed from said adsorbent material, and
(e) collecting a concentrated second fluid stream comprising said desorbed chemical component.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

06/178,251Filed 12 Aug 1980 · continuation in part

Priority

31 Oct 1977

Granted

30 Mar 1982

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification14 codes

C07C 7/13
By adsorption, i.e. purification or separation of hydrocarbons with the aid of solids, e.g. with ion-exchangers: by molecular-sieve technique
B01D 53/02
Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g.…: by…
B01J 20/06
Comprising inorganic material: comprising oxides or hydroxides of metals not provided for in group B01J20/04
B01J 20/18
Alumino-silicates: synthetic zeolitic molecular sieves

Adsorbent regeneration and gas separation utilizing microwave heating

Life of this patent

Adsorbent regeneration and gas separation utilizing microwave heating

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims10