Hydrocarbon Sorbed Patents (Class 95/143)
  • Patent number: 6637193
    Abstract: A natural gas engine capable of exhaust emission control over the entire temperature range and at low costs without requiring a complicated structure. An adsorbent (7) is disposed between a fuel tank (4) and a fuel supply port (5) on a suction air passage (2), and NMOG in the fuel gas supplied to the fuel tank (4) is adsorbed by the adsorbent (7) to purify the fuel gas in advance. When the temperature of a catalyst (11) disposed on an exhaust passage (3) reaches an activation temperature, the adsorbent (7) is heated by a heater (9) to a desorption temperature to desorb NMOG from the adsorbent (7) and purify the NMOG by the catalyst (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaru Oku, Hiroshi Ogasa, Mari Kohno
  • Patent number: 6634119
    Abstract: Disclosed is an adsorptive ethanol drying apparatus in which microwaves are applied during the regeneration of an absorbent conducted in a continuous adsorption process for drying ethanol, so that the absorbent regeneration can be rapidly achieved at a temperature lower than that used in a conventional heating type regeneration method and within a reduced processing time, thereby being capable of allowing an efficient use of energy while improving the productivity per adsorbent mass. A method for operating the adsorptive ethanol drying apparatus is also disclosed. At an adsorption step, a vaporized ethanol azeotropic mixture is forced to pass through adsorption towers to adsorb water contained in the vaporized ethanol azeotropic mixture to an adsorbent charged in each of the adsorption towers while condensing ethanol in a storage tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Energy Research
    Inventors: Jong Kee Park, Soon Haeng Cho, Jong Nam Kim, Jung Il Yang, Hee Tae Beom
  • Publication number: 20030177903
    Abstract: In a process for separating propylene from a mixture comprising propylene and propane, the mixture is passed through a bed of an adsorbent comprising a porous crystalline material having (i) a diffusion time constant for propylene of at least 0.1 sec−1, when measured at a temperature of 373° K and a propylene partial pressure of 8 kPa, and (ii) a diffusion time constant for propane, when measured at a temperature of 373° K and a propane partial pressure of 8 kPa, less than 0.02 of said diffusion time constant for propylene. The bed preferentially adsorbs propylene from the mixture. The adsorbed propylene is then desorbed from the bed either by lowering the pressure or raising the temperature of the bed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2002
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Inventors: Sebastian C. Reyes, Venkatesan V. Krishnan, Gregory J. DeMartin, John H. Sinfelt, Karl G. Strohmaier, Jose G. Santiesteban
  • Publication number: 20030172808
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the purification of gaseous hydrogen contaminated at least with CO and N2 of the H2 PSA type, where the gas stream to be purified is passed through an adsorption region comprising at least one adsorbent based on zeolite 5A and one adsorbent based on zeolite X exchanged with calcium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2003
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Inventor: Remi Le Bec
  • Patent number: 6613126
    Abstract: A method for storing natural gas by adsorption which comprises separating an available natural gas in an infrastructure side (10) into a low carbon number component mainly containing methane and ethane and a high carbon number component mainly containing propane, butane and the like, and storing the low carbon number component by adsorption in a first adsorption tank (16) and storing the high carbon number component by adsorption in a second adsorption tank (18). The method can solve the problem that the high carbon number component condenses within a pore of an adsorbing agent and hence the adsorption of the carbon number component, the main component of natural gas, is inhibited, and thus improves the storage density. Accordingly, the method can be used for ensuring a high storage density also for an available natural gas. An adsorbing agent for use in the method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kyoichi Tange, Tamio Shinozawa, Hiroshi Hasegawa, Kouetsu Hibino
  • Patent number: 6610124
    Abstract: A pressure swing adsorption process for the separation of impurities such as nitrogen and carbon dioxide and recovery of hydrocarbons from a natural gas stream utilizes two separate adsorption systems, the first containing an adsorbent selective for nitrogen, carbon dioxide or both and the second containing a hydrocarbon-selective adsorbent. In the process, the natural gas stream is passed through a first adsorbent to form a product stream enriched with methane and to adsorb nitrogen and/or carbon dioxide and which further co-adsorbs at least a portion of the hydrocarbons contained in the feed stream. The hydrocarbons are recovered by passing a low pressure waste stream from the first pressure swing adsorption stage which contains co-adsorbed nitrogen and/or carbon dioxide and hydrocarbons and directing the waste stream to the second pressure swing adsorption stage to adsorb the hydrocarbons and produce a product stream enriched in nitrogen and/or carbon dioxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: Engelhard Corporation
    Inventors: William Bachop Dolan, Michael J. Mitariten
  • Patent number: 6607584
    Abstract: A formed adsorbent material includes an adsorbent solid phase and a gas phase ensuring transport of the gaseous components right to the adsorbent, being such that the constants for the transport kinetics of the components adsorbable in the gas phase and in the solid phase are in a ratio of between 0.1 and 10 defined for a gas discharge velocity of 0.2 m/s measured on air at 1 bar and 20° C. or in a ratio of between 0.1 and 10, defined for a gas discharge velocity of 0.01 m/s measured on hydrogen at 30 bar and 40° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide-Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Serge Moreau, Xavier Badiche
  • Patent number: 6592653
    Abstract: A fluid storage and dispensing system including a vessel containing a low heel carbon sorbent having fluid adsorbed thereon, with the system arranged to effect desorption of the fluid from the sorbent for dispensing of fluid on demand. The low heel carbon sorbent preferably is characterized by at least one of the following characteristics: (i) Heel, measured for gaseous arsine (AsH3) at 20° C. at 20 Torr, of not more than 50 grams AsH3 per liter of bed of the sorbent material; (ii) Heel, measured for gaseous boron trifluoride (BF3) at 20° C. at 20 Torr, of not more than 20 grams boron trifloride per liter of bed of the sorbent material; (iii) Heel, measured for gaseous germanium tetrafluoride (GeF4) at 20° C. at 20 Torr, of not more than 250 grams AsH3 per liter of bed of the sorbent material; (iv) Heel, measured for gaseous arsenic pentafluoride (AsF5) at 20° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Advanced Technology Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Luping Wang, Joseph Salsbury
  • Patent number: 6592650
    Abstract: A process for separating a gas from a gas mixture containing an organic compound gas or vapor by a hybrid separation combining adsorption with membrane gas separation, using membranes selective for the gas over the organic compound. The membranes use a selective layer made from a polymer having repeating units of a fluorinated cyclic structure of an at least 5-member ring, and demonstrate good resistance to plasticization by the organic components in the gas mixture under treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Ingo Pinnau, Zhenjie He, Andre R. Da Costa, Karl D. Amo, Ramin Daniels
  • Publication number: 20030126989
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for purifying a syngas of the CO/H2 or N2/H2 type, which consists in removing CO2 and possibly other gaseous impurities (water, etc.) before the gas undergoes a cryogenic process. These impurities are adsorbed by the gas stream to be purified passing over an NaLSX-type zeolite and then desorbed during a regeneration step which may be performed by raising the temperature (TSA) and/or reducing the pressure (PSA or VSA).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2002
    Publication date: July 10, 2003
    Applicant: CECA S.A.
    Inventors: Stephane Bancon, Remi Le Bec
  • Patent number: 6582608
    Abstract: Discrete non-clumping mechanically stable geometric alloyed material shapes having about 55-95% by weight thermoplastic elastomer and about 5-45% thermoplastic polymer and about 0-12% by weight filler are used for removing organic contaminates from contaminated fluids. The shapes are typically spheres having a maximum dimension of 0.125 inches, or circular discs having a thickness of less than 6 millimeters. The shapes are put in a loose form or packing, and a fluid containing organic contaminants (such as water, air, or a soil slurry) is brought into contact with the shapes so that the shapes absorb organic contaminants from the fluid, typically absorbing more than 90% of the contaminants in the first pass through. The contaminated fluid is typically passed through an ozone generator before being brought into contact with the shapes. The shapes may be foamed, e.g. utilizing about 0.1-10% by weight foaming agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Hitech Polymers Inc.
    Inventor: Gerald W. Miller
  • Publication number: 20030101867
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a process for the adsorption of organic vapours from gas mixtures containing them onto activated carbon, said process comprising passing the gas mixture consecutively through at least a first and a second adsorption system, the first system consisting of activated carbon having a first adsorption rate for the said organic vapours and the second system consisting of an adsorbent having a second adsorption rate for the said organic vapours, the said second adsorption rate being higher than the said first adsorption rate, more in particular to such process when used in the operation of vehicle internal combustion engines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2002
    Publication date: June 5, 2003
    Inventors: James Duff MacDowall, Dirk van de Kleut, Michiel Trijnisse Kleij
  • Publication number: 20030097933
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an adsorbent for selective adsorption of unsaturated hydrocarbons from its mixture with saturated hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, permanent gases or mixture thereof comprising of silver or copper compound 1 to 70 wt % and substrate 30 to 99%. The invention also discloses a method for the manufacture of an adsorbent for use in selective adsorption of unsaturated hydrocarbons or mixtures thereof from a mixed gas, which comprises impregnating or dispersing a silver (I) or copper (I) compound on a mesoporous substrate or support to form a composite material and subjecting said composite material to heat treatment. In another important aspect, the present invention also relates to a process for separating ethylene and/or propylene from gas mixtures containing them by passing a stream of said gas mixture through a mass of said adsorbent at a temperature from 0° C. to 170° C. and a pressure from 0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2002
    Publication date: May 29, 2003
    Applicant: INDIAN PETROCHEMICALS CORPORATION LIMITED
    Inventors: Nettem Venkateswarlu Choudary, Prakash Kumar, Vijayalakshmi Ravi Puranik, Sodankur Garadi Thirumaleshwara Bhat
  • Patent number: 6565627
    Abstract: A rapid pressure swing adsorption (RPSA) process includes the use of an adsorbent fabric. The fabric can be self-supporting, have an average pore diameter greater than 5 Å and/or have a carbon dioxide mass transfer coefficient of at least 0.5 sec−1. Activated carbon cloths can be suitable for use as the adsorbent fabric. The process can be used to prepare high purity hydrogen and other products. Systems including the adsorbent fabric outperform systems lacking such fabrics in RPSA applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Christopher Golden, Catherine Marie Anne Golden, Daniel Patrick Zwilling
  • Patent number: 6565628
    Abstract: A method to reduce the cycle time in a pressure swing adsorption process by reducing the required pressure equalization time in a cycle, thereby reducing the overall cycle time and increasing product recovery per unit of adsorbent used. This reduces the amount of adsorbent required in the beds for a given feed rate while continuing to provide product at an acceptable product purity, and has the desirable effect of reducing the capital cost of the process equipment required for a given volumetric production rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Jianguo Xu, David Lester Rarig, Tracey Ann Cook, Kuo-Kuang Hsu, Michelle Schoonover, Rakesh Agrawal
  • Patent number: 6551380
    Abstract: A gas separation apparatus and process has a first pressure swing adsorption (PSA) unit (110) receiving feed gas (112), which comprises a first and a second component. First PSA unit (110) produces first product gas (114) pre-dominantly containing the first component, and first off gas (116) containing at least some of the first component and second component. Compressor (120) is coupled to first PSA unit (110) to compress first off gas (116) to form compressed off gas (126), which is passed downstream to absorber unit (130), which employs a solvent to remove at least part of the second component from compressed off gas (126), forming an enriched compressed off gas (136B). Second PSA unit (140) receives enriched compressed off gas (136B) and produces second product gas (142) which predominantly contains the first component and a second off gas that is sent to waste or reformer burner (150).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Fluor Corporation
    Inventors: Satish Reddy, Ravi Ravikumar
  • Publication number: 20030070546
    Abstract: A method for the separation of a gas mixture comprises (a) obtaining a feed gas mixture comprising nitrogen and at least one hydrocarbon having two to six carbon atoms; (b) introducing the feed gas mixture at a temperature of about 60° F. to about 105° F. into an adsorbent bed containing adsorbent material which selectively adsorbs the hydrocarbon, and withdrawing from the adsorbent bed an effluent gas enriched in nitrogen; (c) discontinuing the flow of the feed gas mixture into the adsorbent bed and depressurizing the adsorbent bed by withdrawing depressurization gas therefrom; (d) purging the adsorbent bed by introducing a purge gas into the bed and withdrawing therefrom an effluent gas comprising the hydrocarbon, wherein the purge gas contains nitrogen at a concentration higher than that of the nitrogen in the feed gas mixture; (e) pressurizing the adsorbent bed by introducing pressurization gas into the bed; and (f) repeating (b) through (e) in a cyclic manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2001
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Inventors: Daniel Patrick Zwilling, Timothy Christopher Golden, Edward Landis Weist, Keith Alan Ludwig
  • Publication number: 20030061935
    Abstract: A separator that uses both centrifugal force and gravity can effect the near-complete separation of liquid particles entrained in a gaseous stream having a high flow rate and velocity. The separator includes a conduit disposed in a vertical orientation, a baffle axially disposed in the conduit, a wire mesh disposed circumferentially around the baffle, and an absorbant filter disposed circumferentially around the wire mesh. The entrained liquid-containing gaseous stream enters the separator through a separator first end, and exits the separator from a separator second end as an essentially liquid-free gaseous stream. By virtue of using the baffle, mesh, and filter to effect the separation of the entrained liquid particles, the separator can effect near-complete liquid removal, yet without imposing any significant back pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2001
    Publication date: April 3, 2003
    Inventor: Daniel C. D'Eletto
  • Patent number: 6524544
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the decontamination of fluid ammonia are described. Liquid or gaseous ammonia is purified of contaminants by passage through an adsorbent bed, the contaminants accumulating in the bed. A portion of the purified ammonia discharged from the bed is decomposed to hydrogen and nitrogen. The hydrogen is used to regenerate an adsorbent bed which has accumulated sufficient contaminants to reduce its ability to further decontaminate incoming ammonia satisfactorily. Preferably there are a plurality of interconnected adsorbent beds, with some being operated for ammonia decontamination while others are being regenerated, with their operations being reversed as needed to maintain a continual production of decontaminated ammonia from the plurality of beds. Computers or other controllers can be used to control such bed operations and interchanges. Internal production of hydrogen makes the system self-contained and no addition of hydrogen is needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Aeronex, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Alvarez, Jr., Jeffrey J. Spiegelman
  • Patent number: 6521020
    Abstract: A process for adsorbing hydrocarbons from an acid gas stream includes passing the acid gas stream through an adsorbent which selectively removes hydrocarbons, desorbing the hydrocarbons from the adsorbent and contacting the desorbed hydrocarbons with an acid gas removal solution to remove acid gases which have been coadsorbed with the hydrocarbons. The process is particularly useful in removing hydrocarbons from a hydrogen sulfide-containing stream which is being directed to Claus processing for conversion into elemental sulfur. Useful adsorbents include crystalline titanium silicate molecular sieves containing titania octahedral sites such as ETS-10 and similar materials, as well as high silica aluminosilicate zeolite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Engelhard Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth F. Butwell, William B. Dolan, Steven M. Kuznicki
  • Publication number: 20030024390
    Abstract: Trace impurities such as organic compounds in an inert, non-reactive or reactive liquid such as ammonia, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen bromide, and chlorine are reduced by at least a factor of 5 using liquid purifying systems that contain an ultra-low emission (ULE) carbon. The moisture level of the purified reactive liquid is only slightly higher than that of the contaminated liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2002
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Inventors: Hans H. Funke, Robert Torres, Carrie L. Wyse
  • Publication number: 20030024391
    Abstract: Trace impurities such as organic compounds and carbon monoxide in reactive fluids such as ammonia, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen bromide, and chlorine are reduced to sub-ppb levels using gas purifying systems that contain a preconditioned ultra-low emission (P-ULE) carbon. P-ULE is capable of removing impurities from a reactive fluid down to parts-per-billion (ppb) and sub-ppb levels without concurrently emitting other impurities such as moisture or carbon dioxide into the purified reactive fluid. The P-ULE carbon is prepared by heating a carbon material to temperatures from 300° C. to about 800° C. in an ultra-dry, inert gas stream, to produce an ultra-low emission (ULE) carbon material, subjecting the ULE carbon to a second activation process under a reactive gas atmosphere to produce a P-ULE carbon and storing the P-ULE carbon in an environment that minimizes contamination of the P-ULE prior to its use in a gas purifier system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2002
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Inventors: Hans H. Funke, Dan Fraenkel, Virginia H. Houlding
  • Patent number: 6514317
    Abstract: Purification of a hydrogen-based gas mixture containing impurities such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen and methane is effected by contacting the gaseous mixture with a zeolite adsorbent which is a shaped product comprised of at least 95%, as determined on the basis of the moisture equilibrium adsorption value, of a low-silica type X zeolite having a SiO2/Al2O3 molar ratio of 1.9 to 2.1. The zeolite adsorbent is preferably ion-exchanged with lithium and/or calcium. The zeolite adsorbent is preferably prepared by a process including a step of contacting with a caustic solution a calcined product of a mixture of a low-silica type X zeolite and kaolin clay whereby the kaolin clay is converted to a low-silica type X zeolite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Tosoh Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeru Hirano, Atsushi Harada
  • Patent number: 6508863
    Abstract: A process for adsorbing hydrocarbons from an acid gas stream includes passing the acid gas stream through an adsorbent that selectively removes hydrocarbons, desorbing the hydrocarbons from the adsorbent and contacting the desorbed hydrocarbons with an acid gas removal solution to remove acid gases which have been coadsorbed with the hydrocarbons. The process is particularly useful in removing hydrocarbons from a hydrogen sulfide-containing stream that is being directed to Claus processing for conversion into elemental sulfur. Useful adsorbents include Y-type zeolites having a silica to alumina mole ratio of less than 15 and a reduced sodium content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Assignee: Engelhard Corporation
    Inventors: John W. Byrne, William B. Dolan, Kenneth F. Butwell
  • Patent number: 6503299
    Abstract: This invention provides a two bed pressure swing adsorption process for recovering a primary gaseous component at a purity of over 99% from a feed gas comprising the primary component and one or more impurities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Mohamed Safdar Allie Baksh, Charles Edward Terbot
  • Patent number: 6503297
    Abstract: A process for separating a gas component from a gas mixture is disclosed. A gas mixture is passed through an adsorption zone which contains an adsorbent which will selectively adsorb a gaseous component from the gas mixture. The adsorption zone contains a layer of monolithic adsorbent and a layer of adsorption beads. Optionally, a third monolithic layer may be employed. The adsorption zone is typically contained in an adsorption vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Yaping Lu, Divyanshu R. Acharya, Arthur I. Shirley, Norberto O. Lemcoff
  • Publication number: 20020194991
    Abstract: Air in a compressed air system is cleaned by consecutively passing the air through a pre-filter (6), silica gel with large pores (7), silica gel with fine pores (8), a molecular sieve (9), and a fine filter (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2002
    Publication date: December 26, 2002
    Inventors: Mats Olsson, Mats-Orjan Pogen
  • Patent number: 6497750
    Abstract: A pressure swing adsorption process for the separation of nitrogen from a mixture of same with methane, utilizing two separate PSA stages, one containing a nitrogen selective adsorbent and the second containing a methane-selective adsorbent. In the process, the first PSA unit containing a nitrogen selective adsorbent forms a product methane stream and a waste stream rich in nitrogen which is passed to a second PSA unit containing a methane selective adsorbent which forms a product nitrogen stream and a waste stream rich in methane. The waste stream rich in methane can be treated to remove heavy hydrocarbons therefrom before the methane is recycled to feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Assignee: Engelhard Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth F. Butwell, William B. Dolan, Steven M. Kuznicki
  • Patent number: 6491741
    Abstract: A filter assembly includes a shaped adsorbent article disposed in a housing. The shaped adsorbent article has one or more projections extending from a surface of the article toward the housing to provide for flow of fluid between the shaped adsorbent article and the housing. The filter assembly may optionally include a diffusion channel for additional filtering and/or one or more porous polymer films disposed over inlet or outlet openings in the housing to reduce or prevent particulate contamination. The filter assembly may be used in a device, such as a computer disk drive, to filter a fluid, such as air, within and/or entering or exiting the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Donaldson Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel L. Tuma, Andrew C. Dahlgren, Vijay Garikipati, Randy J. Logan
  • Patent number: 6491740
    Abstract: The present invention provides for methods and compositions for gas separation and purification utilizing a metallo-organic polymer adsorbent in processes for separating carbon dioxide, water, nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons from gas streams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Qing Min Wang, Dongmin Shen, Martin Bülow, Miu Ling Lau, Frank R. Fitch, Shuguang Deng
  • Patent number: 6483001
    Abstract: The present invention describes a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) apparatus and process for the production of purified hydrogen from a feed gas stream containing heavy hydrocarbons (i.e., hydrocarbons having at least six carbons). The apparatus comprises at least one bed containing at least three layers. The layered adsorption zone contains a feed end with a low surface area adsorbent (20 to 400 m2/g) which comprises 2 to 20% of the total bed length followed by a layer of an intermediate surface area adsorbent (425 to 800 m2/g) which comprises 25 to 40 % of the total bed length and a final layer of high surface area adsorbent (825 to 2000 m2/g) which comprises 40 to 78% of the total bed length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Christopher Golden, Edward Landis Weist, Jr
  • Publication number: 20020162452
    Abstract: A pressure swing adsorption process for the separation of nitrogen from a mixture of of same with methane, utilizing two separate PSA stages, one containing a nitrogen selective adsorbent and the second containing a methane-selective adsorbent. In the process, the first PSA unit containing a nitrogen selective adsorbent forms a product methane stream and a waste stream rich in nitrogen which is passed to a second PSA unit containing a methane selective adsorbent which forms a product nitrogen stream and a waste stream rich in methane. The waste stream rich in methane can be treated to remove heavy hydrocarbons therefrom before the methane is recycled to feed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Publication date: November 7, 2002
    Applicant: ENGELHARD CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenneth F. Butwell, William B. Dolan, Steven M. Kuznicki
  • Publication number: 20020162453
    Abstract: The apparatus of the present invention for treating a gas containing a substance to be decomposed comprises adsorption means equipped with an adsorbent for adsorbing the substance to be decomposed, steam introduction means for bringing steam into contact with the adsorbent, condensation means for obtaining a condensed liquid containing the substance to be decomposed from the steam containing the substance, a reaction tank, condensed liquid supply means for supplying the condensed liquid to the reaction tank, hypochlorous acid supply means for supplying a solution containing hypochlorous acid to the reaction tank, and light irradiation means for irradiating the reaction tank with light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2002
    Publication date: November 7, 2002
    Inventor: Kinya Kato
  • Publication number: 20020144597
    Abstract: A method of selectively adsorbing propylene in mixtures of propylene/propane and propylene/olefins through the use of zeolites having structures with a maximum of 8-member rings of tetraheda controlling the diffusion rate. Suitable zeolite adsorbents are those having the CHA and ITE structure types. Other 8-member ring zeolites, including aluminosilicates, with a Si:Al molar ratio of at least about 200 and having substantially no free acid are also suitable adsorbents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2001
    Publication date: October 10, 2002
    Inventor: David H. Olson
  • Patent number: 6454838
    Abstract: A pressure swing adsorption process includes providing a pressure swing adsorption apparatus having six beds, and equalizing a pressure of each of the six beds in four steps, wherein at all times during the process, at least one of the six beds is providing offgas. The process is particularly suitable for purifying hydrogen from a feed gas mixture containing hydrogen and at least one of methane, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen and water vapor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Jianguo Xu, Edward Landis Weist, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6447576
    Abstract: A cleaning agent and a cleaning process for cleaning a harmful gas containing, as a harmful component, an organometallic compound represented by the general formula: Rm—M—Hn wherein R is alkyl; M is As, P, S, Se or Te; and m and n are each positive integer satisfying the relation: m+n=valence of M are described. The cleaning agent contains, as an effective component, copper (II) oxide or a mixture of copper (II) oxide and manganese dioxide. The copper (II) oxide has a BET specific surface area of 10 m2/g or greater which is extremely larger than that of copper (II) oxide conventionally used as the effective component of known cleaning agents. With such an extremely large BET specific surface area, the cleaning agent strongly and stably adsorbs the harmful organometallic compound, thereby efficiently cleaning the harmful gas without causing desorption of the adsorbed organometallic compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Japan Pionics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Otsuka, Yutaka Amijima, Ryuji Hasemi, Youji Nawa
  • Patent number: 6444015
    Abstract: The apparatus of the present invention for treating a gas containing a substance to be decomposed comprises an adsorption unit equipped with an adsorbent for adsorbing the substance to be decomposed, a steam introduction unit for bringing steam into contact with the adsorbent, a condensation unit for obtaining a condensed liquid containing the substance to be decomposed from the steam containing the substance, a reaction tank, a condensed liquid supply unit for supplying the condensed liquid to the reaction tank, a hypochlorous acid supply unit for supplying a solution containing hypochlorous acid to the reaction tank, and a light irradiation unit for irradiating the reaction tank with light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kinya Kato
  • Patent number: 6444012
    Abstract: A pressure swing adsorption process for the separation of nitrogen from natural gas utilizes two separate pressure swing adsorption stages, the first containing a hydrocarbon-selective adsorbent and the second containing a nitrogen-selective adsorbent. In the process, the product stream from the first pressure swing adsorption unit contains a natural gas stream having a reduced hydrocarbon content and the product stream from the second pressure swing adsorption unit is a natural gas stream having a reduced nitrogen concentration. The product from the second pressure swing adsorption unit is used to desorb the hydrocarbons from the first pressure swing adsorption unit so as to add the hydrocarbons, which have heat value to the product natural gas stream. Periodically, heating the nitrogen-selective adsorbent with heated product stream from the second pressure swing adsorption unit has been found to improve the capacity of the nitrogen-selective adsorbent to adsorb nitrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Engelhard Corporation
    Inventors: William B. Dolan, Kenneth F. Butwell
  • Patent number: 6432171
    Abstract: The present invention provides for a thermal swing adsorption process for the removal of trace impurities such as oxides of nitrogen and hydrocarbons from air prior to its separation by cryogenic distillation. The process may utilize three adsorbent layers, the first primarily removes water; the second primarily removes carbon dioxide; and the third layer is a composite adsorbent layer which removes the oxides of nitrogen and hydrocarbons from the air stream. Another embodiment employs a two layer adsorbent system to remove the impurities. Additionally, a single layer of composite adsorbent may be used to remove water, carbon dioxide, oxides of nitrogen, and hydrocarbons from the air stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Ravi Kumar, Madhusudhan Huggahalli, Martin Bülow
  • Patent number: 6425939
    Abstract: A process for the purification of a gaseous hydrogen flow containing one or more gaseous impurities from the group consisting of carbon monoxide, water vapor, nitrogen, H2S, chlorine, C1-C3 light alcohols, ammonia, carbon dioxide and linear, branched or cyclic hydrocarbons, saturated and unsaturated, C1-C8. The hydrogen flow is placed in contact with a porous carbonated adsorbent having an adsorption limit volume (W0) and an energy parameter of (E0) according to the Dubinin relationship, such that: 0.18 ml.g−1≦W0≦1.50 ml.g−1 and 15 kJ.mole−1≦E0≦45 kJ.mole−1. The porous carbonated adsorbent is selected from active carbons. The gas rich in hydrogen is a reforming gas, an electrolysis gas, a gas from ammonia cracking or from alcohol cracking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: L′Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l′Etude et l′Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Serge Moreau, Bernd Polster
  • Patent number: 6425937
    Abstract: A process for purifying a gas stream containing at least one impurity chosen from the group formed by propane, nitrogen protoxide and ethylene, in which process: (a) the gas stream to be purified is brought into contact with at least one adsorbent including at least one X zeolite containing barium cations; (b) at least one impurity is adsorbed on the adsorbent. Preferably, the adsorbent includes particles of X zeolite exchanged to at least 70%, preferably at least 89%, with barium cations, it being possible for the adsorbent to furthermore include a bed of activated alumina particles which is located upstream of the bed of barium-exchanged X zeolite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Georges Kraus, Cyrille Millet, Serge Moreau, Jean-Pierre Gabillard
  • Patent number: 6425941
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an activated carbon composition that is resistant to oxidation and the activated carbon bed fires that can result from uncontrolled oxidation of the activated carbon bed. The activated carbon composition of the present invention includes from about 0.0001-25 wt. % of an antioxidant and from about 75-99.9999 wt. % activated carbon including any and all other impregnants and moisture. The presence of the antioxidant on the surface of the activated carbon inhibits uncontrolled oxidation and the activated carbon bed fires that can result. A method of removing solvents from a solvent-laden gas is also disclosed. The method includes passing the solvent-laden gas through an activated carbon bed, which contains the activated carbon composition described above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Envirotrol, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert G. Roodman
  • Patent number: 6416569
    Abstract: Nitrogen oxides and low molecular weight hydrocarbons are removed from air by subjecting the air to a temperature swing adsorption process using as the adsorbent a composite zeolite product containing both zeolite type A and zeolite type X. The composite zeolite product is prepared by crystallizing a sodium ion- or sodium ion- and potassium ion-containing alumina-silica hydrogel under conditions which result in the production of a zeolitic composite which contains both zeolite type A and zeolite type X crystal domains. In a preferred embodiment, calcium ions constitute a substantial number of the composite's exchangeable cations and the type X portion of the composite zeolite product has a silicon-to-aluminum atomic ratio in the range of 0.9 to less than 1.15. The nitrogen oxide- and hydrocarbon-selective adsorbent can be incorporated into an atmospheric air prepurification plant downstream of a water vapor-selective adsorbent and a carbon dioxide-selective adsorbent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignees: The BOC Group, Inc., Chemiewerk Bad Köstritz GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Bülow, Adeola F. Ojo, Frank R. Fitch, Baldur Unger, Alfons Brandt
  • Patent number: 6409800
    Abstract: Nitrogen oxides and low molecular weight hydrocarbons are removed from air by subjecting the air to a temperature swing adsorption process using as the adsorbent a composite zeolite product containing both zeolite A and zeolite X. The composite zeolite product is preferably prepared by forming a mixture of an agglomerate of silica and sodium zeolite X having a Si/Al atomic ratio in the range of about 0.9 to less than about 1.2 and a water-soluble sodium aluminate salt; maintaining the mixture at a temperature in the range of about 25 to about 100° C. for a period of time sufficient to convert at least 50% of the silica to sodium zeolite A; and at least partially exchanging the zeolite A-containing product with divalent cations, preferably calcium ions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Adeola F. Ojo, Frank R. Fitch, Martin Bülow
  • Publication number: 20020073847
    Abstract: A monolith for use in an evaporative emissions hydrocarbon scrubber is disclosed. The monolith, which is concentrically disposed with a shell, has at least one cell group disposed around at least two individual cells, such that the cell group comprises at least three thick walls. The individual cells comprise at least on thin wall, with the thick walls being thicker than the thin wall. A method for using the evaporative emissions hydrocarbon scrubber is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Inventors: Matthew R. Sheline, Charles H. Covert, Susan LaBine, Jonathan M. Oemoke, Eileen A. Scardino
  • Patent number: 6391090
    Abstract: A method and composition for the removal of contaminants in a gas stream used in the contamination sensitive processes of photolithography and metrology are described. The synergistic effect of a combination of an electropositive metal component, a high silica zeolite, and a late transition metal compound effects removal or reduction of the contaminates in the gas which interfere with light transmittance to the ppb or ppt levels necessary for the gas to be suitable for these uses. The removal of neutral polar molecules, neutral polar aprotic molecules, protic and aprotic alkaline molecules, acidic polar species, and neutral non-polar aprotic molecules is accomplished with the claimed composition. Depending on the type of contaminant, the composition components are each varied from 10 to 80 parts by volume, with the total composition limited to 100 parts by volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Aeronex, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Alvarez, Jr., Jeffrey J. Spiegelman
  • Patent number: 6387159
    Abstract: A process for adsorbing hydrocarbons from an acid gas stream includes passing the acid gas stream through an adsorbent which selectively removes hydrocarbons, desorbing the hydrocarbons from the adsorbent and contacting the desorbed hydrocarbons with an acid gas removal solution to remove acid gases which have been coadsorbed with the hydrocarbons. The process is particularly useful in removing hydrocarbons from a hydrogen sulfide-containing stream which is being directed to Claus processing for conversion into elemental sulfur. Useful adsorbents include crystalline titanium silicate molecular sieves containing titania octahedral sites such as ETS-10 and similar materials, as well as high silica aluminosilicate zeolite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Engelhard Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth F. Butwell, William B. Dolan, Steven M. Kuznicki
  • Patent number: 6379431
    Abstract: A pressure swing adsorption process including an adsorption apparatus having a plurality of beds and counter-currently purging at least two of the beds simultaneously throughout the process. The number of beds and number of pressure equalization steps are not particularly limited, but a ten-bed, four pressure equalization step process in advantageous. In addition, other ten-bed, four pressure equalization step processes are disclosed which do not counter-currently purge at least two of the beds simultaneously, but which have an average of at least two of the ten beds being simultaneously regenerated by simultaneously providing off-gas from a feed end of each of the beds to an off-gas line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Jianguo Xu, Edward L. Weist, Jr., David L. Rarig, James Michael Occhialini, Mark Robert Pillarella
  • Patent number: 6379430
    Abstract: A process, especially a PSA or TSA process, for purifying a gas containing at least carbon dioxide (CO2) as impurity, in which the carbon dioxide is adsorbed on an adsorbent comprising particles of activated alumina. According to this process, the activated alumina has a specific surface area of between 200 m2/g and 299 m2/g and contains at least 80% aluminum oxide (Al2O3), silicon oxide (SiO2), iron oxide (Fe2O3) and from 0.001% to 7.25% of at least one oxide of at least one alkali or alkaline-earth metal, such as sodium and potassium oxides. According to the invention, the gas stream to be purified is air or a synthesis gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'exploitation des procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Christian Monereau
  • Patent number: 6379429
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for use in a manhole or similar structure, whereby the device is designed to filter contaminate gas typically found in such structure. More particularly, the device includes a canister member filled with filtration media, a skirt member designed to direct contaminate gases towards the canister, and a support member for holding the canister in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Inventor: Delbert C. Scranton, Jr.