Removal of gaseous contaminants from argon

A method for argon recovery comprising

• (a) providing a feed gas mixture comprising argon and methane;
• (b) contacting at least a portion of the feed gas mixture with a methane-selective adsorbent in a cyclic pressure swing adsorption process and adsorbing at least a portion of the methane on the adsorbent in a first pressure range above atmospheric pressure to provide a purified argon product and an adsorbent comprising adsorbed methane;
• and
• (c) desorbing the adsorbed methane in one or more regeneration steps effected in a second pressure range between atmospheric pressure and a super-atmospheric pressure below any pressure in the first pressure range, inclusive;
• wherein the cyclic pressure swing adsorption process is effected at an average operating temperature of at least about 0° C.

A method for argon recovery comprising

• (a) providing a feed gas mixture comprising argon, the contaminants nitrogen, oxygen, and one or more hydrocarbons each having one or two carbon atoms, and the contaminant or contaminants hydrogen and/or carbon monoxide;
• (b) removing at least a portion of the oxygen by catalytic reaction with hydrogen and/or methane to yield an oxygen-depleted gas enriched in water and/or carbon dioxide;
• (c) contacting the oxygen-depleted gas with a bed of getter material wherein at least a portion of the hydrogen and/or carbon monoxide is removed to yield an intermediate gas;
• (d) contacting the intermediate gas mixture with adsorbent material in a cyclic pressure swing adsorption process and selectively adsorbing at least a portion of the contaminant gases in a first pressure range above atmospheric pressure to provide a purified argon product and adsorbent material comprising adsorbed contaminants;
• and
• (c) regenerating the adsorbent material comprising adsorbed contaminants in one or more regeneration steps effected in a second pressure range between atmospheric pressure and a super-atmospheric pressure below any pressure in the first pressure range, inclusive;
• wherein the cyclic pressure swing adsorption process is effected at an average operating temperature of at least about 0° C.

An apparatus for argon recovery comprising

• (a) a catalytic oxidation reactor having an inlet, an outlet, and a catalytic material adapted to promote the reaction of oxygen with hydrogen and/or methane;
• (b) a getter vessel having an inlet, an outlet, and a bed of getter material adapted to chemisorb hydrogen and/or carbon monoxide, wherein the inlet of the vessel is in flow communication with the outlet of the catalytic oxidation reactor;
• and
• (c) a pressure swing adsorption system having an inlet in flow communication with the outlet of the getter vessel, wherein the pressure swing adsorption system comprises a plurality of parallel adsorber vessels, each adsorber vessel containing adsorbent material selective for the adsorption of gaseous contaminants from argon, wherein the pressure swing adsorption system is adapted to effect the cyclic steps of (1) adsorbing gaseous contaminants on the adsorbent material in a first pressure range above atmospheric pressure to provide a purified argon product and an adsorbent comprising adsorbed contaminants and (2) regenerating the adsorbent by desorbing the adsorbed contaminants in a second pressure range between atmospheric pressure and a super-atmospheric pressure below any pressure in the first pressure range, inclusive, to yield reject gas comprising argon and desorbed contaminants, and wherein the pressure swing adsorption system is adapted to operate at an average operating temperature of at least about 0° C.