Abstract: An improved method for preparing an adsorbent containing sheet is disclosed. Alkali or alkaline metal salts or mixtures thereof are added to a slurry during preparation of the adsorbent containing sheet or washed onto a finished adsorbent monolith which was prepared from the adsorbent containing sheet. The treated adsorbent monoliths provide improved sorption capacity and N2/02 selectivity when employed in gas separation processes.

Abstract: An improved method for preparing and activating monolith adsorbents is disclosed. A regeneration gas is passed through the formed monolith adsorbent at a temperature sufficient to decompose at least part of the binding agents in the adsorbent. The present invention also provides for the use of the treated adsorbent monoliths in separating gases in cyclical separation processes such as vacuum swing adsorption processes.

Abstract: Zeolites exchanged with lithium, rubidium, cesium cations and trivalent cations are prepared by first partially, fully or excessively ion-exchanging a sodium-containing zeolite, a potassium-containing zeolite or a sodium- and potassium-containing zeolite with trivalent cations, then calcining the partially, fully or excessively trivalent cation-exchanged zeolite, and then ion exchanging the calcined zeolite with lithium rubidium, cesium cations, thereby replacing hydrogen and any sodium and/or potassium cations remaining in the zeolite with lithium, rubidium, cesium cations, whereby trivalent cations present in the zeolite will not be substantially replaced by the lithium ions.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a process for purifying atmospheric air prior to its separation by cryogenic distillation. The process utilizes three adsorbent layers, the first primarily removes water; the second primarily removes CO2; and the third layer is designed to remove displaced gas components such as N2O and hydrocarbons which are displaced by the second layer. It has been found that CaX type adsorbents provide the removal of N2O and hydrocarbons in the third layer.

Abstract: Novel compositions of molecular sieve adsorbents are provided in which at least 50% of the exchangeable cations are selected from those of Li, Ca, Ag and Cu and which have within their pore system metal oxide, metal oxide precursors or mixtures thereof. These compositions are useful for the separation of gases and, in particular, the separation of nitrogen from air to produce oxygen or oxygen-enriched gas.

Abstract: A gas separation process comprising feeding a gaseous mixture comprising at least two components having different adsorption characteristics into an adsorption vessel containing at least one adsorbent material capable of preferentially adsorbing at least one of the gaseous components in the gaseous mixture and subjecting the gaseous mixture to non-cryogenic conditions which enable the preferentially adsorbable gaseous component in the gaseous mixture to adsorb onto the adsorbent material and separate from the non-adsorbed component in the gaseous mixture which pass through the adsorbent vessel wherein at least one adsorbent material in the adsorbent vessel comprises a composite particle having an inner core comprising a non-porous, non-adsorbent material and at least one outer layer comprising the adsorbent material. In another embodiment of the process of the present invention a hollow particulate adsorbent material is utilized.

Abstract: Ethene is separated from a gas mixture containing ethane by a pressure swing adsorption process carried out at a temperature in the range of about 50 to about 200° C., wherein the adsorption step of the process is conducted by passing the gas mixture through an adsorption zone containing type A zeolite whose exchangeable cations are preferably made up of at least about 60 but not more than 75% sodium ions and more than 25 and up to about 40 percent potassium ions.

Abstract: Carbon dioxide is separated from gaseous hydrocarbons by a cyclic adsorption process using at a temperature in the range of about -50 to about 200.degree. C., wherein the adsorption step of the process is conducted by passing the gas mixture through an adsorption zone containing carbon molecular sieve or type A zeolite whose exchangeable cations are made up of about 50 to about 90% sodium ions and about 10 to about 50 percent potassium ions.

Abstract: A method of processing semiconductor manufacturing exhaust gases for recovering at least hexafluoroethane in which a feed stream composed of the exhaust gases is passed through an adsorbent bed selected to adsorb oxygen, and also nitrogen if present, but not to appreciably adsorb the hexafluoroethane. As a result, a product stream, discharged from the adsorbent bed, has a higher concentration of hexafluoroethane than in the feed stream. In one embodiment, only a single adsorbent such as carbon molecular sieve is provided to adsorb the oxygen or a modified 4A zeolite could be used to adsorb both oxygen and nitrogen. When nitrogen is a potential constituent, layers of carbon molecular sieve and zeolite are provided to adsorb the oxygen and then the nitrogen, respectively. A third adsorbent, preferably 5A zeolite may be provided in addition to the foregoing two adsorbents to also adsorb any carbon tetrafluoride produced as a by-product.