# US 7,608,134 B1 · Decarbonating gas streams using zeolite adsorbents > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,608,134 B1 - Document ID: US7608134B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 09/623,801 - Filed: 1999-03-04 - Granted: 2009-10-27 - Earliest claimed: 1998-03-09 - Assignees: Ceca S.A. - Inventors: Dominique Plee - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7608134B1 ## CPC - B01J 20/183: {Physical conditioning without chemical treatment, e.g. drying, granulating, coating, irradiation} - B01D 53/04: with stationary adsorbents {(B01D53/025 takes precedence)} - B01D 53/047: Pressure swing adsorption - B01D 2253/108: Zeolites - B01D 2253/1085: characterized by a silicon-aluminium ratio - B01D 2256/24: Hydrocarbons - B01D 2257/504: Carbon dioxide - B01D 2257/80: Water - Y02C 20/40: of CO2 - B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - Y02C: CAPTURE, STORAGE, SEQUESTRATION OR DISPOSAL OF GREENHOUSE GASES [GHG] ## Abstract The invention concerns a method for decarbonating gas streams polluted by CO2, which consists in contacting them with an adsorbent consisting of an agglomerate of zeolite X with an Si/Al ratio of 1 to 1.15, highly sodium-exchanged comprising not more than 20% of inert binder, to eliminate at least the carbon dioxide. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Process for the decarbonation of gas flows, contaminated with CO2, comprising placing in contact the gas flow to be purified, in an adsorption zone, with at least one adsorbent consisting essentially of a zeolite containing NaLSX type with an Si/Al ratio of 1 to 1.15, exchanged with sodium to a degree of greater than or equal to 98%, the degree of exchange being expressed as the ratio between the number of sodium ions and the number of aluminum atoms in a tetrahedral position, the remainder of the exchange capacity being occupied by potassium ions, agglomerated with a binder, the content of residual inert binder in the adsorbent being less than or equal to 20% by weight. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) Process according to claim 1, wherein the content of residual inert binder in the agglomerated zeolite composition is not more than 5% by weight. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) Process according to claim 1, wherein it is performed by pressure swing adsorption (PSA). ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) Process according to claim 1, wherein the zeolite X has an Si/Al ratio of 1. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) Process according to claim 1, wherein adsorption pressures are between 1 and 10 bar and desorption pressures are between 0.1 and 2 bar. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) Process according to claim 1, wherein it comprises carrying out a treatment cycle comprising: a) passing the contaminated gas flow into an adsorption zone comprising an adsorbent bed, the adsorbent bed ensuring separation of the contaminant(s) by adsorption, b) desorbing the adsorbed CO2 by establishing a pressure gradient and gradually lowering the pressure in the adsorption zone to recover the CO2 at the adsorption zone inlet; c) raising the pressure of the adsorption zone by introducing a stream of pure gas via the adsorption zone outlet. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) Process according to claim 6, in which the adsorbent is regenerated at a temperature between 100 and 120° C. ### Claim 8 Process for purifying air contaminated with CO2 and H2O, comprising gas flow to be purified is placed in contact, in an adsorption zone, with at least one drying agent and at least with an adsorbent consisting generally of zeolite containing NaLSX type with an Si/Al ratio of 1 to 1.15, exchanged with sodium to a degree of greater than or equal to 98%, the degree of exchange being expressed as the ratio between the number of sodium ions and the number of aluminum atoms in a tetrahedral position, the remainder of the exchange capacity being occupied by potassium ions, agglomerated with a binder, the content of residual inert binder in the adsorbent being less than or equal to 20% by weight. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) Process according to claim 8, wherein it comprises carrying out a treatment cycle comprising: a) passing contaminated gas flow into an adsorption zone comprising a drying-agent bed and an adsorbent bed, with at least one adsorbent consisting essentially of a zeolite containing NaLSX type with an Si/Al ratio of 1 to 1.15, exchanged with sodium to a degree of greater than or equal to 98%, the degree of exchange being expressed as the ratio between the number of sodium ions and the number of aluminum atoms in a tetrahedral position, the remainder of the exchange capacity being occupied by potassium ions, agglomerated with a binder, the content of residual inert binder in the adsorbent being less than or equal to 20% by weight, b) desorbing the adsorbed CO2 by establishing a pressure gradient and gradually lowering the pressure in the adsorption zone to recover the CO2 at the adsorption zone inlet; c) raising the pressure of the absorption zone by introducing a stream of pure gas via the adsorption zone outlet. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) Process according to claim 1, wherein the gas is air. ### Claim 11 (depends on 3) Process according to claim 3, wherein the process is performed by pressure temperature swing adsorption (PTSA). ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) Process according to claim 8, wherein the drying-agent contains alumina.