Pressure-swing adsorption system and method for NBC collective protection

A system for removing chemical and biological warfare agents from air for human consumption comprising, in combination,

• (a) an air compressor providing compressed air,
• (b) an aerosol removal system for removing particulates from said compressed air that have a diameter in excess of a first diameter to generate a first filtered air stream,
• (c) a pressure-swing adsorber system for purifying said first filtered air stream in at least one bed of molecular sieve adsorbent capable of being regenerated and having a pore size substantially in excess of five Angstroms and of about ten Angstroms to thereby generate a stream of purified air,
• (d) a filter for receiving said stream of purified air and intercepting particles in excess of a second diameter, wherein one of said first and second diameters is substantially less than one micrometer (1.mu.m), to thereby generate a stream of filtered and purified air for human consumption.