Process for producing xenon

In an air separation plant for producing oxygen, the method of separating xenon from liquid oxygen received from the main condenser of the upper rectifying column of the air separating unit in a separation plant which comprises the steps of

• gasifying the xenon containing liquid oxygen into a gas stream,
• passing the gasified xenon containing gas stream into an adsorption column containing an adsorption agent,
• operating said adsorption column at a preselected temperature and pressure so as to adsorb on said adsorption agent, xenon but not oxygen, krypton or hydrocarbons contained in said gasified stream;
• purging said adsorption column with a gas and by heating whereby xenon is desorbed and concentrated;
• introducing the concentrated xenon from said adsorption column into a solid-gas separating column;
• cooling said solid-gas separating column to a temperature at which xenon is solidified but at which oxygen, krypton and hydrocarbons are not solidified;
• purging said solid-gas column of all gas components remaining therein, whereby xenon is further concentrated and purified;
• heating said solidified xenon in said solid gas column to gasify and drive off the concentrated and purified xenon;
• and
• collecting and storing said concentrated and purified xenon.