Abstract: This invention is directed to a process for recovering helium. The process includes a) passing a first gas containing helium to an eductor to produce a second gas; b) passing the second gas through a heat exchanger to produce a third gas; and c) recovering the third gas into the eductor to combine with the first gas.

Abstract: The low stability of some molecular sieves can be overcome during calcination by a solid state reaction between the molecular sieve and a salt. Molecular sieves including zeolites, metal substituted aluminosilicates, and metallosilicates can be stabilized by this method. The inventive process comprises mixing such molecular sieve with a salt, either directly or as a slurry; and then heating the resulting mixture to remove water, organics and adsorbed species.

Abstract: This invention is directed to an external loop nonfreezing heat exchanger for cooling a heat transfer fluid with cryogenic fluid. The cryogenic fluid is first pre-vaporized with the spent cryogenic fluid. The heat transfer fluid is then cooled by the vaporized cryogenic fluid instead of the cryogenic fluid feed directly.

Abstract: This invention is directed towards an improved process for the selective gas phase oxidation of a organic reactant using a metal oxide redox catalyst, wherein the organic reactant and air feeds are at a substantially continuous level, the improvement comprising adding a fluctuating flow of oxygen at alternating relatively high and relatively low levels. The invention also teaches means by which a gas may be provided to a reaction process on a fluctuating basis.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a method for delivering a liquefied compressed gas with a high rate of flow comprising passing a liquefied compressed high-purity semiconductor gas into a storage vessel; positioning a temperature measuring means onto the wall of the compressed gas storage vessel; positioning at least one heating means proximate to the storage vessel; monitoring the resulting temperature with the temperature measuring means; positioning a pressure measuring means at the outlet of the storage vessel and monitoring the vessel pressure; adjusting the heat output of the heating means to heat the liquefied compressed gas in the storage vessel to control the evaporation of the liquefied compressed gas in the storage vessel; and controlling the flow of the gas from the storage vessel.

Abstract: The shielding gas mixture is useful for MIG brazing galvanized steel. The gas mixture having by volume percent, about 0.5 to 4 carbon dioxide, about 0.2 to 1 hydrogen, and the balance is argon and incidental impurities.

Abstract: An advanced medical concentrator process and system is provided using fast cycle and advanced adsorbent. Significant improvements achieved results in a smaller, lighter and more efficient system in comparison with the current commercial stationary concentrators. Integrated with a conserver, a small portable concentrator is achieved.

Abstract: A low silica AFI zeolite and a high purity gmelinite zeolite that have a SiO2/Al2O3 ratio of about 10 or less are provided.

Abstract: A process for making microporous membranes that incorporate selected gas selective species as surface sites in a controlled spacing and orientation manner and such membranes so formed being suitable for separating and purifying the selected gas from selected gas containing gas mixtures. An example is the use of oxygen selective transition element complexes (TECs) as surface sites for separating and purifying oxygen from oxygen-containing gas mixtures.

Abstract: A pressure swing adsorption process for recovery of a more readily adsorbable component, such as nitrogen, and a larger amount of a less readily adsorbable component, such as oxygen, from a feed gas mixture, such as air, wherein the ratio of nitrogen to oxygen is less than about 3:1 and the ratio of the co-purge:feed gas of the process is maintained at less than about 1.15:1.

Abstract: A pressure swing process and system for purifying a first gas, preferably argon, from a crude feed gas stream containing the first gas and second gas(es) utilizes two adsorption beds and continuously promotes the crude feed gas to the bed during the process and simultaneous equalization of pressure in the two beds in top-to-top end and bottom-to-bottom end equalizations in each bed following purging of each bed.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a method for producing an alkyl-substituted metallocene complex comprising the steps of mixing a metallocene with a solvent to form a metallocene-solvent mixture; mixing the metallocene-solvent mixture with an effective amount of a metallation reagent to produce a metallated-metallocene; and mixing said metallated-metallocene with an electrophilic alkyl-reagent to form an alkyl-substituted metallocene complex.

Abstract: A gas separation process incorporating the invention combines use of an adsorbent having high intrinsic diffusivity with a low pressure ratio PSA cycle. Further enhancements to the process are derived from the use of fast cycles, shallow beds and small particles—especially in a radial bed configuration. The combination of low pressure ratio, high rate adsorbents and fast cycles has been found to result in an unexpected simultaneous reduction in bed size factor (BSF) and power consumption. These benefits have been achieved while minimizing a decline in product recovery through use of the high rate adsorbent. The net result is a significant reduction in product cost.

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.

Abstract: The invention is based upon the recognition that intrinsic sorption rates of adsorbent materials have a significant impact upon process performance. In a preferred embodiment an adsorption process uses an adsorbent zone comprising an adsorbent selected from the group consisting of A-zeolite, Y-zeolite, NaX, mixed cation X-zeolite, LiX having a SiO2/Al2O3silica/alumina ratio of less than 3.0, chabazite, mordenite, clinoptilolite, silica-alumina, alumina, silica, titanium silicates and mixtures thereof, wherein the adsorbent has a mass transfer coefficient for nitrogen of kN2≧12 s−1 and an intrinsic diffusivity for N2, when measured at 1.5 bar and 300K, of Dp≧3.5×10−6 m2/s. Other embodiments include the development of process parameters around which such materials should be used and methods of making such materials.

Abstract: An improved pressure swing adsorption process and system for producing a high recovery of a highly purified product gas, such as argon, from a feed gas stream containing the product gas and impurity gases employs first and second adsorption stages with beds for adsorbing impurity gases. The system and process provides for sequential steps of: feed pressurization; simultaneous feed pressurization and product pressurization; adsorption; adsorption and purge; adsorption in the absence of purge; pressure equalization between beds; evacuation and depressurization of adsorbent bed; evacuation with product purge; evacuation without purge; and pressure equalization between beds.

Abstract: A process for preparing polyimide gas separation membranes is disclosed. The process involves preparing polyamic acid salt membrane precursors that are converted into polyimide membranes by mild thermal or chemical treatments. The gas separation processes that utilize these polyimide membranes are further disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention is a two stage PSA process for producing high purity oxygen from a feed air stream. Water, carbon dioxide and nitrogen are removed in a first stage. An oxygen selective adsorbent is used to adsorb oxygen in the second stage. High purity oxygen product is recovered during regeneration of the second stage. Importantly, the high purity of the oxygen product is achieved without inclusion of an oxygen rinse step in the process cycle. The high purity oxygen product is obtained by collecting the middle cut of the second stage effluent stream during regeneration.

Abstract: The invention comprises a reactor having a source of a first hot reactant gas, a mixing chamber in which said first hot reactant gas mixes with a second reactant gas to form a reactant gas mixture, but wherein substantially no reaction takes place and a reaction zone wherein said mixture undergoes vapor phase reaction. A process for using the reactor is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention comprises a PSA process and apparatus wherein the fixed adsorbent bed comprises an equilibrium zone and a mass transfer zone. Further, the equilibrium and mass transfer zones each comprise at least one adsorbent material, selective for the adsorption of a more selectively adsorbable component, that is selected on the basis of the performance of that adsorbent material under the process conditions applicable to the zone.