Abstract: The present invention discloses a device, which uses membranes, capable of separating olefins from paraffins. The device (1) considers an ultramicroporous ceramic membrane module, zeolite or silicate based, containing a fixed carrier of copper I or silver ions (#-complexant ions) inserted by ion exchange, or as a monolayer of CuCl, AgNO3, Cu or Ag+ (2). Olefins have higher diffusivity and affinity to the membrane than the remaining species, therefore the bicomponent permeation selectivity becomes reinforced when compared to the ideal permeation selectivity. The purification of olefins by removal of dienes and/or alkynes, is accomplished with a zeolite membrane functionalized with Ag+ and having a specific catalyst in the permeate side (4), e.g. palladium nanoparticulated, for catalyzing the hydrogenation of the permeating dienes and alkynes to the corresponding olefins, thus increasing the selectivity and the driving force of the separation.

Abstract: The present invention concerns the application of adsorption gas separation technologies to anaesthesia equipment and falls within the technical domains of adsorption separation units and medical devices. The invention concerns a device and processes for recovering xenon from gas mixtures released from anaesthesia gas machines (1) using xenon as anaesthetic. The purged xenon is collected using a system which includes a shift valve (6), and then separated and purified (38-40). The recycled xenon is then pressurised (31) and reintroduced in the anaesthesia circuit (48) using a shift valve (12). The separation and purification process combines different adsorption separation/purification technologies. The device is external to the anaesthesia gas machine and is compatible with any standard anaesthesia circuit able of perform xenon anaesthesia.