Process for removing oxygen from crude argon
AssigneeAir Products and Chemicals, Inc.
InventorsMichael S. Chen, Philip J. Cook
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Abstract
A process is provided for purifying argon gas, especially an argon gas stream obtained by cryogenically separating air, wherein the argon gas is heated and compressed, and then permeated through a solid electrolyte membrane selective to the permeation of oxygen over other components of the gas, and removing oxygen from the argon by selective permeation of oxygen through the membrane. The purified argon can then be distilled to remove other components such as nitrogen.
Claims14
A process for purifying bulk argon which comprises recovering a crude bulk argon gas containing oxygen from a cryogenic, adsorptive or membrane separation of air, heating the crude argon gas to a temperature of from about 450.degree. to 800.degree. C. and compressing the crude argon gas to a pressure of about 30 to 80 psig, feeding the heated, compressed gas to a high temperature solid electrolyte membrane selective to the permeation of oxygen over other components of the gas, and separating oxygen from the argon gas by selective permeation of oxygen through the membrane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.