C - Chemistry – Metallurgy – 01 – B
Patent
C - Chemistry, Metallurgy
01
B
162/104
C01B 23/00 (2006.01) B01D 53/047 (2006.01) B01D 53/22 (2006.01) C01B 3/02 (2006.01) C01C 1/04 (2006.01) F25J 3/02 (2006.01)
Patent
CA 1274168
ABSTRACT An improved process is disclosed for argon recovery from an ammonia synthesis plant purge gas stream comprising hydrogen, nitrogen, argon, methane, and ammonia. This purge gas is conventionally subjected to ammonia absorption and a first membrane separation of hydrogen for recycle to the ammonia plant. The hydrogen depleted non-permeate gas stream from the first membrane separator, comprising the aforesaid four components, and any residual moisture from the ammonia absorption, is subjected, according to a first embodiment of the present invention, to the following steps: (i) Separation of methane and residual moisture and most of the nitrogen in the gas stream in a pressure swing adsorption system using molecular sieve or activated carbon material. (ii) Separation of most of the hydrogen in a second membrane separator. The separated hydrogen may be used as purge gas for regeneration of the pressure swing adsorption systems of step (i). (iii) Separation of the nitrogen and residual hydrogen by cryogenic distillation to obtain essentially pure liquid argon product. In a second embodiment, step (ii) above is eliminated and separation of hydrogen is accomplished by cryogenic separation in combination with step (iii). In a third embodiment, separation of most of the hydrogen is accomplished by metal hydride adsorption in place of membrane separation. The present process is equally applicable with minor modifications for the recovery of argon from ammonia synthesis plant purge gas streams, wherein PSA or cryogenic units are employed instead of the first membrane separator, in order to recover hydrogen for recycle to the ammonia synthesis plant.
529763
Krishnamurthy Ramachandran
Lerner Steven L.
Maclean Donald Lewis
Gowling Lafleur Henderson Llp
The Boc Group Inc.
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