Pressure-temperature swing adsorption process

A process for the separation of a target gas component from a gas mixture, which process comprises:

• a) conducting the gas mixture containing said target gas component to an adsorption step by introducing it into the feed input end of an adsorbent bed selective for adsorbing said target gas component, which adsorbent bed has a feed input end and a product output end and which adsorbent bed is operated at a first pressure and at a first temperature wherein said target gas component is adsorbed by the adsorbent bed and wherein a gaseous product depleted in the target gas component exits the product output end of said adsorbent bed;
• b) stopping the introduction of said gas mixture to said adsorbent bed before breakthrough of said target gas component reaches the product output end of said adsorbent bed;
• c) sealing the feed input end of said adsorbent bed;
• d) heating the sealed adsorbent bed to a second temperature higher than said first temperature, resulting in desorption of at least a portion of said target gas component from said adsorbent bed and thereby resulting in an increase in pressure of said target gas component;
• e) recovering at least a first portion of said target gas component at a second pressure higher than the pressure at the initiation of the heating of step d);
• f) reducing the pressure of the adsorbent bed to a third pressure lower than said second pressure and recovering a second portion of the target gas component;
• g) cooling at least a portion of said adsorbent bed at the feed end to a third temperature lower than said second temperature of step d);
• and
• h) repressurizing said adsorbent bed for the next adsorption cycle.