Abstract: Processes and systems for purifying high purity helium group gas which may have been contaminated with water, oxygen and/or hydrogen during its transmission to customers' sites.

Abstract: The activity of a lipase is improved in processes where the lipase is contacted with a noble gas. The gases neon, argon, xenon, and krypton when contacted with the lipase improve the activity of the lipase when the process is performed at a pressure less than 100 atmospheres.

Abstract: A novel class of energy-generating chemical processes or reactions uses cryogenically Prepared and stored materials exhibiting volcanic ground states having lifetimes exceeding several seconds. Energy generation is provided through activation of cryogenically prepared and stored material characterized by a volcanic ground potential surface in which its lowest rotation-vibration level has a lifetime sufficiently long to permit practical storage and subsequent energy release. Cryogenic preparation and storage provides that the material is kept in these lowest rotation-vibration levels, thereby avoiding thermodynamic population of the higher levels which are short-lived and therefore not suitable for practical use. In one embodiment, the He .sub.2.sup.++ v=0, J=0 level has been found to have a lifetime of 220 minutes making He.sub.2.sup.++ an ideal candidate for a fuel in which laser-induced fragmentation of He.sub.2.sup.++ into He.sup.+ +He.sup.

Abstract: A process for producing a substantially oxygen-free gaseous product such as argon containing not more than one ppm by volume of oxygen is disclosed. The process comprises introducing hydrogen into a gas stream which contains oxygen and moisture, contacting the gas stream with a dessicant to remove substantially all of the moisture therefrom, contacting the substantially anhydrous gas stream with an oxidation catalyst to convert substantially all of the oxygen in the gas stream to water, and contacting the resultant gas stream with a dessicant to remove the water created in the oxidation step. The product stream may be further purified to remove residual hydrogen contained therein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to feeding liquid oxygen from the main condenser of the upper rectifying column of an air liquefying/separating unit into a xenon condensing column. The liquid oxygen is evaporated in varying amounts in correspondence to fluctuating amounts of liquid oxygen being fed into the xenon condensing column. The level and pressure of the liquid at the xenon condensing column is controlled and quantities of liquid oxygen is vented from the xenon condensing column at a constant level. The vented liquid oxygen is exchanged to high pressure oxygen gas in order to evaporate it, and this evaporated gaseous oxygen is supplied to a xenon absorptive column, and recovered as liquid oxygen through heat-exchangers.

Abstract: A cryogenic rectification method employing rectification over a defined height within the lower pressure column of a double column system which reduces the nitrogen concentration of an argon, nitrogen, oxygen mixture while maintaining the argon concentration at or near its maximum enabling production of nitrogen-free argon directly from the argon column system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of krypton and xenon from a cryogenic air separation unit. The present invention simultaneously concentrates krypton and xenon while rejecting more than 90% of the methane present in the feed stream. The feed to the process is a liquid oxygen stream which is withdrawn from the main distillation column system of the air separation unit. The improvement of the present invention is the discovery that an optimum liquid to vapor flow is required in the oxygen enriching section of the krypton/xenon column. The optimum range is between 0.05 to 0.2, more preferably about 0.1.

Abstract: A gas mixture for preserving fish and sea-food products, comprising carbon dioxide, oxygen and argon with partial pressures in the following range:______________________________________ CO.sub.2 50%-68% O.sub.2 5%-20% Ar 27%-45% ______________________________________This mixture slows down enzymatic reactions and microbiological development at the surface and inside the fish or sea-food product.

Abstract: An argon purification system comprising an ambient temperature molecular sieve adsorption step, an ambient temperature chemisorption step, and a cryogenic temperature adsorption step, particularly useful with liquefaction of the purified argon.

Abstract: A crude neon production system wherein a small neon-containing stream is taken from a cryogenic air separation plant and processed in a neon column and in a non-cryogenic pressure swing adsorption system to produce crude neon and wherein tail gas from the pressure swing adsorption is recycled back into the air separation plant.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of kryton and xenon by using an oxygen-free vapor stream to strip a liquid stream containing oxygen, krypton, methane, and xenon of methane and oxygen. This is accomplished by properly controlling the liquid to vapor flow ratio in the distillation column so that such ratio is less than 0.15. A suitable reflux liquid is used to decrease the loss of krypton and xenon in the methane and oxygen laden vapor stream leaving the distillation system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of kryton and xenon by using a vapor stream containing greater than 2% oxygen to strip a liquid stream containing oxygen, krypton, methane and xenon of methane. This is accomplished by properly adjusting the liquid to vapor flows in the distillation column. The use of a suitable reflux liquid will decrease the loss of krypton and xenon in the methane laden vapor stream leaving the distillation system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing high purity xenon safely at a high yield from liquid oxygen in a main condenser of an air separating unit.The present invention involves a process for concentrating and recovering xenon by gasifying and introducing liquid oxygen led out from the main condenser in the air separating unit into an adsorption column field with an adsorbent which adsorbs xenon for adsorption and desorption, and a process for rectifying and recovering xenon by introducing concentrated xenon gas into a solid-gas separating column, which is cooled to a temperature at which xenon is solidified but components other than xenon such as oxygen and krypton in the concentrated xenon gas are not solidified to, catch xenon by condensation, then heating the solid-gas separating column after evacuating gas components remained therein.

Abstract: A process for the biological oxidation of sulfide in sulfide-containing ore. Preferably, the ore is then subjected to cyanide leaching. The resulting leach tail solution can be subjected to cyanide precipitation, employing ferric sulfate which is generated during the biological oxidation step of the process. Furthermore, a process for efficiently aerating the ore slurry during the biological oxidation step is provided.

Abstract: This invention provides a manufacturing process which produces highly purified Xenon economically and safely with high recovery efficiency. In this invention liquid oxygen containing Xenon, which is vented from the main condenser in the upper rectification column of the air separating unit, is sequentially fed into multiple adsorptive columns filled with an adsorbent to selectively adsorb the Xenon. By a sequence of adsorbing-desorbing steps, Xenon is gradually condensed and, at the final state, highly purified Xenon is recovered. Hydrocarbons (CmHn) are removed from the product gas by a catalytic process. Xenon at a purity as high as 99.995% and at a yield as high as 95% is obtained by use of the present process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a three stage process using copper, copper oxide and molecular sieve adsorbent beds for the sequential removal of oxygen, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and water from an inert feed gas. The process is especially suited to the purification of nitrogen gas from an air separation plant, which can be purified from a contaminant level of 30 vppm oxygen+carbon monoxide+hydrogen to less than 10 vppb each of oxygen, carbon monoxide, hydrogen, carbon dioxide and water, without the addition of hydrogen or another reducing gas to the process.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for removing minor amounts of oxygen from inert gas streams to result in very low levels of oxygen contamination in such inert gas streams, wherein the oxygen is removed by the action of stoichiometric quantities of methanol, which react with the oxygen over a catalyst at ambient feed temperature conditions without a requirement for external heating of the reaction.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for producing endothermic gases from methanol and inert gas streams containing minor amounts of oxygen, wherein the oxygen is reacted with stoichiometric excess quantities of methanol over a catalyst as ambient feed temperature conditions without a requirement for external heating of the reaction to produce an endothermic gas containing very low levels of oxygen and methanol and significant quantities of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, water and carbon dioxide.

Abstract: The present invention is a process for producing a high-purity argon stream from a feed gas containing nitrogen, oxygen and at least 85 mole % argon, Nitrogen is absorbed from the stream followed by catalytic hydrogenation to remove oxygen. The absorption column is regenerated at a preset low pressure using the nitrogen-depleted stream from the absorption unit as the purge gas.

Abstract: Highly pure argon is obtained from an argon waste gas composition by adding a stoichiometrically excess amount of oxygen to the waste gas composition to combust hydrogen and the like impurities and to convert into water and carbon dioxide, adding a stoichiometrically excess amount of a hydrocarbon gas to the resulting gas composition to remove the residual oxygen by the reaction with the oxygen and the hydrocarbon gas so as to convert into water and carbon dioxide, and subjecting the resulting gas composition to a pressure swing adsorption-desorption treatment to remove the impurities.

Abstract: Process for decontaminating an exhaust gas from a fusion reactor fuel cycle of exhaust gas components containing at least one heavy hydrogen isotope selected from tritium and deuterium in compound form, the compound form being ammonia and hydrocarbon, the exhaust gas containing CO and hydrogen isotopes and in which the at least one heavy hydrogen isotope is liberated from its compound, separated out from the exhaust gas and fed back into the fuel cycle, comprising(a) carrying out a catalytic oxidation reaction at a temperature of from 200.degree. C. to 250.degree. C., to oxidize the exhaust gas components, without changing the ammonia, as follows: CO to CO.sub.2, hydrocarbon to CO.sub.2 +water, and the hydrogen isotopes to water,(b) bringing the gas admixture resulting from step (a) into contact with a metal bed at a temperature in the range of 200.degree. C. to 400.degree. C. to selectively transform the water into hydrogen isotopes and to remove O.sub.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for the separation of hydrogen and/or euterium and tritium from an inert gas flow which is contaminated with hydrogen and/or deuterium and/or tritium, wherein the inert gas which is to be purified is conducted along the primary side of an exchange wall for hydrogen isotopes.The secondary side of the exchange wall has applied thereto an agent which so chemically reacts with the permeating hydrogen isotopes that the hydrogen isotope or the hydrogen isotopes which are to separated out of the inert gas flow which is to be purified, are bound in a reaction product which is transportable in a gas flow which is not capable of permeating through the exchange wall, and wherein along the secondary side of the exchange wall there is conducted a carrier gas flow which conveys off the reaction product.

Abstract: A method to concentrate krypton and xenon in a substantially oxygen-free liquid employing a two-section exchange column, the top section of which is refluxed by a substantially rare gas-free liquid.

Abstract: A new high energy chemical complex is provided formed from metastable hel fixed on ammonia (HE.sub.m NH.sub.3), so that the metastable helium electron is captured so as to be held in the "L" layer of the metastable helium atom.The process for producing the He.sub.m NH.sub.3 complex comprises the following steps: excitation of helium to create metastable helium; deposition of metastable helium on NH.sub.3 to form the complex; and accumulation or condensation of the product.The invention finds a particular application as a propellant in the aerospace field.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for recovering a high-purity inert gas by removing the impurities in a used inert gas (e.g., Ar), comprising a combustible component reaction step and reaction unit for adding oxygen to a raw gas containing a carbonaceous combustible component to thereby react the combustible component in said raw gas with the oxygen; a carbon dioxide gas removing step and removing unit for removing the carbon dioxide in the raw gas sent from said combustible component reaction unit; an oxygen reaction step and reaction unit for adding hydrogen to the raw gas after the carbon dioxide gas removal to react the oxygen remaining in said raw gas with the hydrogen; a moisture removing step and removing unit for removing the moisture in the raw gas sent from the oxygen reaction unit; and a refining step and refining unit for removing the remaining impurities from the raw gas after the moisture removal to recover a high-purity inert gas.

Abstract: Lewis acid and oxidant impurities are removed from inert fluids by contacting with a high capacity macroreticulate polymer comprising a macroreticulate polymer backbone having a plurality of pendant functional groups or mixtures of functional groups having the general formula: ##STR1## where Ar is an aromatic hydrocarbon radical containing from one to three rings; R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are the same or different and are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl hydrocarbon radicals, methylene-bridged benzophenone radicals, salts of methylene-bridged benzophenone, methylene-bridged fluorenone radicals and salts of methylene-bridged fluorenone; and M is selected from the group consisting of lithium, potassium, sodium, alkyl magnesium, and alkyl zinc.

Abstract: A fuel cell composite plant characterized by comprising a fuel cell, a device for feeding a fuel gas to an anode of the fuel cell, a gas separator for feeding a high-purity oxygen gas containing argon to a cathode of the fuel cell, a combustor for burning unreacted gases from the anode and the cathode, and a cooling device for condensating and removing water from a burned gas in order to obtain an argon gas.

Abstract: A process which produces a krypton-xenon concentrate from a liquid feed while also producing a liquid product substantially free of rare gases. The process employs an integral heat pump circuit to carry out the separation in an energy-efficient manner.

Abstract: A krypton-xenon concentration process which also produces substantially rare gas-free oxygen gas while requiring a stripping column substantially smaller than is required by conventional process wherein feed liquid is provided directly to a reboiling zone and only the vapor from the reboiling zone is passed through the stripping column.

Abstract: Isotopically enriched helium-4, that is, helium-4 which is low in helium-3, is useful as a nuclear reactor coolant. It is produced from liquefied natural gas source helium by distilling helium-3 therefrom. The coolant is preferably enriched in hydrogen up to about 6 percent by volume to thereby improve the heat transfer characteristics of the coolant, and to reduce the power requirements for circulation of the coolant.

Abstract: A method and device for conducting gettering. The gettering is conducted with one of an LiB, LiSi or LiAl system. Preferably the LiB system is of the formula Li.sub.x B.sub.1-x wherein 0<x<1 with gettering conducted at room or slightly elevated temperature of about 100.degree.-200.degree. C.

Abstract: New energetic salts NF.sub.4 XeF.sub.7 and (NF.sub.4).sub.2 XeF.sub.8 are prepared by reacting NH.sub.4 HF.sub.2 with XeF.sub.6 and exposing NF.sub.4 XeF.sub.7 to blue 4880 .ANG. laser light.

Abstract: New energetic salts NF.sub.4 XeF.sub.7 and (NF.sub.4).sub.2 XeF.sub.8 are prepared by reacting NF.sub.4 HF.sub.2 with XeF.sub.6 and exposing NF.sub.4 XeF.sub.7 to blue 4880.ANG. laser light.

Abstract: An air separation process which safely and efficiently produces krypton and xenon by concentrating these rare gases in nitrogen and in a manner such that the performance of the associated main air separation plant is minimally impacted.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the purification of an inert or non-reacting gas such as lower mono-olefins by the removal of trace amounts of reacting impurities such as carbon dioxide therefrom, comprising passing said gas through an essentially non-aqueous liquid solution of alkali or alkaline earth metal hydroxides and/or weak acid salts and certain selected liquid polyhydric alcohols.

Abstract: Gases resulting from the re-processing of spent nuclear fuel contain radioactive substances which are separated by mixing the said gases with a carrier gas having approximately the same separating behavior as the radioactive substances; the gas mixture obtained is separated into a fraction containing the radioactive substances and the carrier gas and a fraction free from these components. In a further stage the radioactive substances are separated from the carrier gas.

Abstract: In a process for decontaminating a nuclear process off-gas stream, oxygen and oxides of nitrogen are removed by catalytic reaction with hydrogen. The feed gas stream is then passed serially through a drier, a carbon dioxide adsorber and a xenon adsorber to sequentially remove water, CO.sub.2 and xenon therefrom. The feed gas exiting the xenon adsorber is passed to a krypton recovery process wherein krypton is concentrated to a first level in a primary distillation column, partially evaporated to increase concentration thereof and is brought to a concentration of approximately 90 mol % or greater in a second distillation column thereby enabling efficient storage of a radioactive krypton product. The xenon gas removed from the main feed stream in the xenon adsorber is passed to a freezeout heat exchange device to concentrate xenon to approximately 99% or greater, balance krypton.

Abstract: Isotopically enriched helium-4, that is to say, helium-4 which is low in helium-3, is useful as a nuclear reactor coolant. It is produced from liquefied natural gas source helium by removing helium-3 therefrom.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for separating krypton from radioactive waste gases which become free during the chemical dissolution of burnt-off fuel particles and contain krypton and xenon. Simultaneously with the core fuel particles conveyed to the chemical dissolution, such quantity of chemically inactive carrier gas intermixable with the waste gases is added to the substances bringing about the chemical dissolution that after purification of the waste gas mixture from gas components such as oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, hydrocarbons and water steam and after subsequent cooling of the waste gas mixture to the boiling temperature of the liquid nitrogen, the quantity of xenon contained in the waste gas mixture is quantitatively precipitated in solid form. Thereupon the waste gas mixture is cooled by means of liquid nitrogen, while simultaneously increasing the pressure, to such an extent that krypton is precipitated.

Abstract: Xenon is separated from a mixture of xenon and krypton by extractive distillation using carbon tetrafluoride as the partitioning agent. Krypton is flushed out of the distillation column with CF.sub.4 in the gaseous overhead stream while purified xenon is recovered from the liquid bottoms. The distillation is conducted at about atmospheric pressure or at subatmospheric pressure.

Abstract: In the synthesis of ammonia with recycle of unreacted nitrogen and hydrogen to the reactor, a purge gas stream is removed from the recycle stream and partially condensed using refrigeration provided by the expansion and subsequent vaporization of the condensate. After partial condensation the condensate is rich in methane and argon while the gaseous phase is hydrogen enriched. The gaseous stream from the partial condensation is returned to the reactor and a bleed stream is removed from this gaseous stream at a temperature not exceeding 30.degree. C above the subambient temperature of the condensation. At least a part of the bleed stream is then expanded and injected into the expanded condensate prior to vaporization in the refrigeration step. Accumulation of helium, argon and methane impurities in the reactor can thus be prevented and expanded vaporized combined condensate and bleed can be recovered at a suitable pressure for use as a fuel gas stream.

Abstract: The method of treatment of a mixture of air and at least partially radioactive gases such as xenon and krypton in particular, especially gaseous effluents derived from the reprocessing of irradiated nuclear fuels, comprises a stage of concentration of the rare gases in solution in liquid oxygen by cryogenic distillation of the light gases and especially nitrogen from the liquefied mixture.

Abstract: A system for separating, concentrating and storing radioactive krypton and xenon in the off-gases from a boiling water reactor, wherein adsorption and cryogenic distillation are both efficiently used for rapid and positive separation and removal of the radioactive noble gases, and for limiting such gases in circulation in the system to low inventory at all times, and wherein the system is self-regulating to eliminate operator options or attention.

Abstract: Means for reclamation of helium from diving apparatus comprise a bell conduit coupled to the discharge valve of a diving bell, a first receiver coupled to the conduit and arranged to receive gas from the bell, a second receiver coupled through a regulating valve to the first receiver, the regulating valve being arranged to close upon increase of pressure in the second receiver, a compressor and a storage tank (or bank of storage tanks), and further conduits interconnecting the second receiver, compressor and storage tanks for gas flow therebetween.

Abstract: Radioactive krypton is separated from a gas mixture comprising nitrogen and traces of carbon dioxide and radioactive krypton by first selective adsorption and then cryogenic distillation of the prepurified gas against nitrogen liquid to produce krypton bottoms concentrate liquid, using the nitrogen gas from the distillation for two step purging of the adsorbent.

Abstract: A process for the removal of radon from hydrocarbon streams by insertion and removal of radon-selective carriers.

Abstract: A process for removing I, R, Xe and Kr which involves the passage of the off gas stream through a tube-in-shell assembly, whereby the tubing is a PTFE membrane which permits the selective passages of the gases for removing and isolating the gases.