Process for recovery and purification of refrigerants with solid sorbents

A process for the recovery and purification of a contaminated refrigerant stream comprising halogenated hydrocarbons and impurities including water and air said process comprising:

• a) passing said contaminated refrigerant stream through a first bed of molecular sieve adsorbent selective for the adsorption of halogenated hydrocarbons, whereby the halogenated hydrocarbons are selectively removed from the contaminated refrigerant stream forming a halogenated hydrocarbon front in said first bed, and withdrawing from said first bed a first vent gas stream comprising said impurities;
• b) passing said first vent gas stream to a second bed of said molecular sieve adsorbent and continuing to pass said contaminated refrigerant stream to said first bed until at least a portion of said halogenated hydrocarbon front has moved into said second bed and withdrawing from said second bed a second vent gas stream comprising said impurities;
• c) terminating the passing of said contaminated refrigerant stream to said first bed and isolating said first bed;
• d) sealing said first bed, replacing said first bed with another bed containing said molecule sieve adsorbent, passing the contaminated refrigerant stream to said other bed and withdrawing a third vent gas stream comprising impurities;
• e) passing said third vent gas stream to said second bed and continuing to pass said contaminated refrigerant stream to said other bed until at least a portion of said halogenated hydrocarbon front has moved into said second bed;
• and
• f) repeating steps (d) and (e) and terminating said passing of contaminated refrigerant to said other bed prior to breakthrough of said halogenated hydrocarbon front from said second bed.