Process and apparatus for obtaining pure CO

Apparatus suitable for obtaining purified carbon monoxide from a gaseous mixture consisting essentially of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and water, said apparatus comprising a compressor for compressing the gaseous mixture, conduit means for transporting the compressed gas;

• selective adsorption means having an inlet and outlet for selectively removing carbon dioxide and water from the compressed gaseous mixture, said adsorption means inlet being in communication with the latter conduit means;
• heat exchange means having an inlet and outlet for cooling resultant gaseous mixture depleted in carbon dioxide and water to condense a predominant portion of the carbon monoxide containing dissolved hydrogen, further conduit means for communicating to the outlet of the adsorber means to the inlet of the heat exchange means;
• pressure reducing means for lowering the pressure on the condensed CO-H.sub.2 mixture so as to remove hydrogen and form a purified liquid CO, additional conduit means communicating the outlet of the heat exchange means with said pressure reducing means;
• vaporization means for vaporizing at least a fraction of said purified liquid CO, still additional conduit means for transporting said purified liquid CO to said vaporization means;
• expansion turbine means for lowering the pressure and cooling at least a fraction of said vaporized purified CO, and still additional conduit means for transporting said vaporized purified CO to said expansion turbine means.