Abstract: An apparatus for separation of gases from ambient air that has at least one separation column with an inlet at a first end and an outlet at a second end, a buffer column having a single inlet at a first end, a vacuum pump, and a valve system that connects the vacuum pump to the outlet at the first end of the separation column, and that connects the outlet at the second end of separation column to the single inlet at the first end of the buffer column.

Abstract: An adsorbent media composition has a finished media lithium-exchanged zeolite X (LiX) with a finished Li content in a range from 96% to 83%, based on the total cation equivalents in the LiX. The adsorbent media composition is obtained from a slurry comprising water, a LiX precursor having a pre-media production Li content that is greater than the finished media LiX Li content, and another media component material, such as fibers. The water used to produced the media has a specific conductance in a range from 2.2 ?Siemens/cm to 150 ?Siemens/cm. The finished media LiX has a monovalent cation (Na, K, Rb, Cs and combinations thereof) in a range from 0.05% to 3%, based on the total equivalents of exchangeable cations in the finished media LiX.

Abstract: Porous bulk materials formed of shape-persistent, non-collapsible, three-dimensional molecular cage building blocks are presented that are useful for a variety of applications including gas separation/storage, sensing, and catalysis.

Abstract: A vacuum-pressure swing absorption concentrator includes a motor driven compressor having pressure and vacuum heads that are connected to a pressure reservoir and a vacuum reservoir respectively. The pressure and vacuum reservoirs are selectively and alternately interconnected in sequence through a main valve to a pair of nitrogen filtering sieve beds. A controller operates the valve to alternately and cyclically interconnect the sieve beds to the pressure and vacuum reservoirs respectively. During each cycle, a respective bed is pressurized and enriched oxygen is produced and delivered to a tank for use by a patient. At the same time, the other bed is evacuated through the vacuum reservoir. A crossover valve delivers oxygen from a pressurized bed to an evacuated bed to facilitate purging of impurities previously collected in the evacuated bed.

Abstract: Method for recovering a desired component from a waste gas comprising (a) at an operating facility, introducing a waste gas comprising the desired component and one or more undesired components into an adsorber containing adsorbent material selective for the desired component, adsorbing at least a portion of the desired component therein, (b) terminating flow of waste gas into the adsorber; and (c) recovering and concentrating the desired component by either (1) isolating the adsorber, transporting the adsorber to a central processing facility, or (2) withdrawing from the adsorber an intermediate gas enriched in the desired component, compressing the intermediate gas and storing it in a vessel, isolating the vessel, transporting the vessel to a central processing facility to provide a concentrated product further enriched in the desired component.

Abstract: An adsorption drying apparatus, in particular for drying a compressed gas, includes an adsorption chamber (11) having a plurality of adsorption conduits (101) containing an adsorption material (123), a first feeding line (106) and a first discharging line (109) disposed at a first end (111) of the adsorption chamber (11), and a second feeding line (108) and a second discharging line (107) disposed at a second end (112) of the adsorption chamber (11). The adsorption chamber (11) is rotatable with respect to the feeding and discharging lines (106, 107, 108, 109) so that the adsorption conduits may be fluidically connected in temporal alternation, wherein the gas is dried in a drying sector (102), and the adsorption material (123) is regenerated in the regeneration sector (103). The first feeding line (106) is configured such that the gas stream to be dried may be fed to the regeneration sector (103) as a full flow.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for subjecting feed air to fractionation for recovery of a product oxygen fraction therefrom in a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) process utilizing a nitrogen-selective adsorbent (“NSA”) that is sensitive to water. The PSA process includes the steps of feed pressurization, production, equalization, and blowdown. The improvement to this PSA process commences with placing a bed of pre-treatment adsorbent between feed air and a bed of NSA. Next, a controllable valve is interposed between the pre-treatment adsorbent bed and the NSA bed. Finally, the controllable valve is kept closed during the steps of production, equalization, and when the process is idle. An advantageous NSA is LiX zeolite, Li-LSX zeolite, CaX zeolite, and similar adsorbents, particularly highly hydrophilic zeolites. Another feature of the disclosed PSA cycle is that the pre-treatment adsorbent bed blows-down while the NSA bed equalizes.

Abstract: The present invention describes the use of isostructural zeolites with rho zeolitic structure in processes of adsorption and separation of the various components of natural gas.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an oxygen concentrator in which a pulsation detection device for detecting pulsation of oxygen supplied and a control device for controlling an amount of air supplied from a compressor based on the detection results in a pressure swing adsorption-type oxygen concentrator, which is equipped with an adsorption bed filled with an adsorbent capable of selectively adsorbing nitrogen relative to oxygen, the compressor for supplying air to the adsorption bed, a channel switching valve to repeat in a constant timing an adsorption step, in which air is supplied from the compressor to the adsorption bed to isolate concentrated oxygen and a desorption step, in which the adsorption bed is evacuated to regenerate the adsorbent and a flow rate measuring device for determining a supply flow rate of concentrated oxygen produced and an amount of oxygen produced is controlled by a feedback with a flow rate sensor by itself after paying attention to variation of a product flow rate caused by sup

Abstract: This invention provides a metal complex having a gas adsorption capability, a gas storing capability, and a gas separation capability. The present invention attained the above object by a metal complex comprising: a dicarboxylic acid compound (I) represented by the following General Formula (I), wherein R1, R2, R3, and R4 are as defined in the specification; at least one metal ion selected from ions of a metal belonging to Group 2 and Groups 7 to 12 of the periodic table; and an organic ligand capable of bidentate binding to the metal ion, the organic ligand belonging to the D?h point group, having a longitudinal length of not less than 8.0 ? and less than 16.0 ?, and having 2 to 7 heteroatoms.

Abstract: A process for producing synthesis gas (S) from biomass, includes drying the biomass and gasifying the biomass. An equipment to carry out the process is also disclosed. The process further includes: subjecting the outgoing gases (CO2, N2 and H2O) from the gasifying step to a first heat exchange, where the outgoing gases (CO2, N2 and H2O) are cooled, purifying the outgoing gases (CO2, N2 and H2O) to achieve a process gas (P), the purification being effected by eliminating nitrogen (N2) from the outgoing gases (CO2, N2 and H2O), subjecting the process gas (P) to heat exchange, where the process gas (P) is heated, reducing the process gas (P) to synthesis gas (S), subjecting the synthesis gas (S) to heat exchange, where the synthesis gas (S) is cooled and supply air to the gasification is heated.

Abstract: A shipboard system provides dry, oil-free utility air and inert gas for use on a marine vessel. A compressor converts ambient air into a pressurized air stream. The air stream is cooled by heat exchange with sea water in the vicinity of the vessel. The air stream is then dried in a dehydration membrane module, and some of the product of the dehydration module is taken for use as utility air. The remainder of the dried air is passed through an air separation module which includes a polymeric membrane. The product of the air separation module includes a nitrogen-enriched gas which is used as an inert gas on the vessel. The compressor is the only mechanically moving component of the system.

Abstract: A vacuum-pressure swing absorption concentrator includes a motor driven compressor having pressure and vacuum heads that are connected to a pressure reservoir and a vacuum reservoir respectively. The pressure and vacuum reservoirs are selectively and alternately interconnected in sequence through a main valve to a pair of nitrogen filtering sieve beds. A controller operates the valve to alternately and cyclically interconnect the sieve beds to the pressure and vacuum reservoirs respectively. During each cycle, a respective bed is pressurized and enriched oxygen is produced and delivered to a tank for use by a patient. At the same time, the other bed is evacuated through the vacuum reservoir. A crossover valve delivers oxygen from a pressurized bed to an evacuated bed to facilitate purging of impurities previously collected in the evacuated bed.

Abstract: Provided herein are new compact and miniature oxygen concentrator apparatus, as well as methods incorporating use of the apparatus. The apparatus and methods utilize selected cycle times, adsorbent specifications and novel conditions to produce a fast Pressure Swing Adsorption (“PSA”) system. The oxygen concentrator apparatus and methods herein have significant utility in the fields of biotechnology, engineering, and medicine. A particularly advantageous use of this invention is as a “snap on” portable oxygen concentrator, where piped compressed air is already available such as in civil and military hospitals, ambulances, air craft cabins, mobile fish tanks, etc. Those embodiments eliminate the need for dedicated moving machinery (blower, compressor, vacuum pump) normally associated with a conventional PSA oxygen concentrator.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for achieving low oxygen levels in a natural gas stream without the use of a catalytic system. In one embodiment, the method comprises: membrane treatment for the removal of the bulk of CO2 and oxygen in the natural gas feed and the addition of a PSA system using a carbon molecular sieve adsorbent for the adsorption of residual oxygen.

Abstract: Methane product gas is produced from landfill gas and gob gas either by a three-stage process of PSA-TSA-PSA or PSA-PSA-PSA, or a two-stage process of PSA-PSA.

Abstract: A method of continuously removing nitrogen from a blast furnace exhaust stream containing oxygen, nitrogen and unburned hydrocarbons in order to form a supplemental feed to a gas turbine engine containing residual hydrocarbon fuel by first removing entrained solid particulates in the blast furnace exhaust stream to create a substantially particulate-free gas, passing the particulate-free stream through at least one separator bed containing an adsorptive material capable of adsorbing nitrogen from air, adsorbing substantially all of the nitrogen as interstitial nitrogen on solids within the separator bed, feeding non-adsorbed hydrocarbon fuel and oxygen components leaving the separator to a gas turbine engine and removing the adsorbed nitrogen from the separator bed.

Abstract: The present invention describes the use of isostructural zeolites with rho zeolitic structure in processes of adsorption and separation of the various components of natural gas.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a nanoporous hybrids formed by covalent bonding between a crystalline organic-inorganic hybrid and a gigantic mesoporous metal oxide, containing organic groups on the surface thereof, having a size of 10 nm or more. Since the covalently-bonded hybrid nanoporous composite has a large surface area, a multiple microporous structure, a large pore volume and includes an organic-inorganic hybrid having backbone flexibility, the covalently-bonded hybrid nanoporous composite can be used as materials for storing liquids and gases, such as hydrogen, methane and the like, and can be used as adsorbents, separating materials, catalysts, and the like. Further, the covalently-bonded hybrid nanoporous hybrids can be used in the application fields of biomolecule supporting, drug delivery, harmful material removal, nanoparticle supporter, sensors, catalysis, adsorbents, fluorescent materials, solar cells, and the like.

Abstract: An improved two stage pressure swing adsorption process for producing enriched oxygen and separating nitrogen or oxygen from a feed air stream. The process utilizes two-stage pressure swing adsorption plants which are serially connected. In the first stage, carbon dioxide, water and part of nitrogen are removed and nitrogen is concentrated. In the second stage nitrogen is further separated from the effluent intermediate gas from the adsorption step in the adsorption towers of the first stage and oxygen is concentrated to the desired concentration. In the first stage the adsorption towers go through the steps in turn in a cycle: Adsorption, Purge, evacuation, countercurrent pressure equalization rising of the second stage gas, purge gas pressurization, and final pressurization. In the second stage the adsorption towers go through the steps in turn in a cycle: Adsorption, countercurrent pressure equalization falling, and final pressurization.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are mixed matrix membranes which include a continuous phase organic polymer with molecular sieves interspersed therein, the molecular sieves comprising one or more zeolites having an HEU structure type; wherein the membrane exhibits a mixed matrix effect and further wherein the membrane has a N2/CH4 selectivity of greater than about 5, at 35° C. and a pressure of 100 psia (690 kPa). Methods for their preparation and use are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an agglomerated zeolite adsorbent containing at least one polymer matrix that is greatly laden with at least one zeolite adsorbent. The invention also relates to the method for preparing such an adsorbent and to the uses thereof, particularly as an adsorbent of moisture, odors, volatile organic components, and the like.

Abstract: An adsorbent media composition has a finished media lithium-exchanged zeolite X (LiX) with a finished Li content in a range from 96% to 83%, based on the total cation equivalents in the LiX. The adsorbent media composition is obtained from a slurry comprising water, a LiX precursor having a pre-media production Li content that is greater than the finished media LiX Li content, and another media component material, such as fibers. The water used to produced the media has a specific conductance in a range from 2.2 ?Siemens/cm to 150 ?Siemens/cm. The finished media LiX has a monovalent cation (Na, K, Rb, Cs and combinations thereof) in a range from 0.05% to 3%, based on the total equivalents of exchangeable cations in the finished media LiX.

Abstract: A compact and highly portable combination pressure swing adsorption apparatus and product gas conservation device for medical use, to produce efficiently a gas with a high concentration of oxygen and to deliver the oxygen concentrated gas to a user at selectable times and in selectable doses, in which the operating components are detachably mounted together as a single unit.

Abstract: Pressure swing adsorption process for producing oxygen comprising (a) providing at least one adsorber vessel having a first layer of adsorbent adjacent the feed end of the vessel and a second layer of adsorbent adjacent the first layer, wherein the surface area to volume ratio of the first layer is in the range of about 0.75 to about 1.8 cm?1; (b) introducing a pressurized feed gas comprising at least oxygen, nitrogen, and water into the feed end, adsorbing at least a portion of the water in the adsorbent in the first layer, and adsorbing at least a portion of the nitrogen in the adsorbent in the second layer, wherein the superficial contact time of the pressurized feed gas in the first layer is between about 0.08 and about 0.50 sec; and (c) withdrawing a product gas enriched in oxygen from the product end of the adsorber vessel.

Abstract: A method for removing contaminants from a natural gas stream such as a biogas/landfill gas stream. The natural gas stream is fed to a first adsorption unit for removal of certain contaminants and then to a second adsorption unit for the removal of additional contaminants. Alternatively, a membrane stage may be employed between the adsorption units. The method utilizes the external purge to enhance pressure swing adsorption working capacity so that the vacuum level required for regeneration is not as high.

Abstract: The invention relates to gas adsorbents based on metal-organic microporous coordination polymers of the metallic bispyrmidinolate-type with a sodalite-type topology, having an adsorbent performance that is typical of crystalline microporous materials. The aforementioned materials also have a large accessible pore volume of between 25 and 45% of the total volume of the material with a monodispersion of pores having diameters of less than 1.3 nm. In addition, the materials have a high capacity for adsorption of small gases, such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, nitrogen, methane, acetylene, etc., which is reversible such that, once said gases have been stored, they can be desorbed.

Abstract: Containerized gas separation system comprising (a) a container having an interior, an exterior, and an exterior volume defined by the exterior dimensions of the container and (b) a pressure swing adsorption system installed in the interior of the container and adapted to recover a product gas from a feed gas mixture, the pressure swing adsorption system being adapted to deliver the product gas at a product gas flow rate, wherein the ratio of the exterior volume of the container to the product gas flow rate is less than about 2000 ft3/(ton per day).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a porous metal organic framework comprising at least one first organic compound and ions of at least one metal, with the skeleton of the framework being formed at least partly by the at least one first organic compound coordinating at least partly in a bidentate fashion to at least two ions of the at least one metal, where the at least one metal is lithium and the at least one first compound is derived from formic acid or acetic acid. The invention additionally relates to a process for preparing it and also its use for gas storage or separation.

Abstract: Described herein are a method and a reactor for reducing NOx contained in a gaseous emission stream. The method and the reactor both utilize an adsorption region in which NOx is adsorbed by either a catalyst material or a non-catalytic adsorbent material and a reduction region in which the adsorbed NOx is catalytically reduced by a hydrocarbon stream. Concentrations of components that inhibit catalytic NOx reduction, such as water vapour, oxygen, and sulphur dioxide, are lower in the reduction region than in the adsorption region. By adsorbing NOx in the adsorption region of the reactor and reducing NOx in the reduction region of the reactor, the reactor and method described herein allow for the efficient reduction of NOx from the emission stream even when the emission stream has a relatively high concentration of components that can inhibit efficient NOx reduction.

Abstract: A portable gas fractionalization apparatus that provides oxygen rich air to patients is provided. The apparatus is compact, lightweight, and low-noise. The components are assembled in a housing that is divided into two compartments. One compartment is maintained at a lower temperature than the other compartment. The lower temperature compartment is configured for mounting components that can be damaged by heat. The higher temperature compartment is configured for mounting heat generating components. An air stream is directed to flow from an ambient air inlet to an air outlet constantly so that there is always a fresh source of cooling air. The apparatus utilizes a PSA unit to produce an oxygen enriched product. The PSA unit incorporates a novel compressor system which includes the use of free piston linear compressors so as to reduce power consumption, noise and vibration reduction.

Abstract: Pressure swing adsorption process for the separation of a feed gas mixture comprising (a) providing a pressure swing adsorption system comprising one or more composite beds, each composite bed comprising adsorbent material disposed in two or more vessels in parallel flow configuration, each vessel having a feed end and a product end; (b) performing cyclic sequential steps comprising adsorption/make product, withdrawing gas at decreasing pressure from the composite bed, purging the composite bed, and introducing gas into the composite bed at increasing pressure; and (c) for any of the sequential steps, setting a flow rate or flow rates of one or more gases selected from the group consisting of gas introduced into or withdrawn from the feed end or ends of any of the two or more vessels and gas introduced into or withdrawn from the product end or ends of any of the two or more vessels.

Abstract: An oxygen concentrator comprises a plurality of adsorbent columns, each having an inlet, an outlet and abed of adsorbent material. The oxygen concentrator also includes a vacuum pump for removing separated nitrogen rich gas from the column inlets, a control valve for controlling flow of fluids in and out of the columns, and a breakthrough sensor for signaling the position of a mass transfer zone (MTZ), the breakthrough sensor controlling operation of the control valve as a function of the breakthrough sensor signal. An electric control module (ECM) receives the signal from the breakthrough sensor, and adjusts the control valve based on the signal.

Abstract: Method for argon recovery that comprises (a) providing a feed gas mixture comprising argon and nitrogen; (b) contacting at least a portion of the feed gas mixture with a nitrogen-selective adsorbent in a cyclic pressure swing adsorption process and adsorbing at least a portion of the nitrogen on the adsorbent in a first pressure range above 100 psia to provide a purified argon product and an adsorbent comprising adsorbed nitrogen; and (c) desorbing the adsorbed nitrogen in one or more regeneration steps effected in a second pressure range between atmospheric pressure and a super-atmospheric pressure below any pressure in the first pressure range, inclusive; wherein the cyclic pressure swing adsorption process is effected at an average operating temperature of at least about 0° C.

Abstract: A porous crystalline material has a tetrahedral framework comprising a general structure, M1-IM-M2, wherein M1 comprises a metal having a first valency, wherein M2 comprises a metal having a second valency different from said first valency, and wherein IM is imidazolate or a substituted imidazolate linking moiety.

Abstract: A portable oxygen concentrator includes a reservoir adapted to store oxygen-enriched gas, a delivery valve adapted to communicate with the reservoir, a pressure sensor adapted to measure a reservoir pressure within the reservoir and to measure a pressure drop across the delivery valve, and an input device adapted to receive a pulse does setting. A controller coupled to the pressure sensor and monitors the reservoir pressure and the pressure drop across the delivery valve. The controller is also coupled to the delivery valve to selectively open the delivery valve for pulse durations based on the pulse dose setting to deliver pulses of gas from the reservoir to a user. The controller further adjusts the pulse durations based at least partially upon the reservoir pressure and the pressure drop across the delivery valve.

Abstract: A method of continuously removing nitrogen from a blast furnace exhaust stream containing oxygen, nitrogen and unburned hydrocarbons in order to form a supplemental feed to a gas turbine engine containing residual hydrocarbon fuel by first removing entrained solid particulates in the blast furnace exhaust stream to create a substantially particulate-free gas, passing the particulate-free stream through at least one separator bed containing an adsorptive material capable of adsorbing nitrogen from air, adsorbing substantially all of the nitrogen as interstitial nitrogen on solids within the separator bed, feeding non-adsorbed hydrocarbon fuel and oxygen components leaving the separator to a gas turbine engine and removing the adsorbed nitrogen from the separator bed.

Abstract: In order to provide a new PSA method which can concentrate simultaneously a strong adsorbate such as xenon and a weak adsorbate such as nitrogen in a high concentration with a high recovery percentage when highly valuable gas such as xenon and krypton contained in the exhaust gas from a semiconductor manufacturing equipment, etc.

Abstract: A portable oxygen concentrator includes a pair of sieve beds, a compressor for delivering air to the sieve beds, a reservoir receiving oxygen-enriched gas from the sieve beds, and an air manifold attached to the first ends of the sieve beds. A set of valves operate under the control of a controller for selectively opening and closing the valves to alternately charge and purge the sieve beds to deliver oxygen-enriched gas into the reservoir. In addition, an exhaust passage communicates with the plurality of sieve beds to deliver a flow of nitrogen evacuated from the sieve beds such that the flow of the nitrogen is directed at or across the controller to cool the controller.

Abstract: A method of determining the purity of oxygen present in an oxygen-enriched gas produced from an oxygen delivery system is disclosed. The oxygen delivery system includes at least one sieve bed having a nitrogen-adsorbing material disposed therein and configured to adsorb nitrogen from a feed gas introduced into the at least two sieve beds via a pressure-swing adsorption cycle. The method includes determining a quantity of nitrogen adsorbed by the nitrogen-adsorbing material by inferring an effective volume of the at least one sieve bed based on a pressure change of the at least one sieve bed.

Abstract: PSA process for oxygen production comprising (a) providing an adsorber having a first layer of adsorbent selective for water and a second layer of adsorbent selective for nitrogen, wherein the heat of adsorption of water on the adsorbent in the first layer is ?about 14 kcal/mole at water loadings ?about 0.05 to about 3 mmol per gram; (b) passing a feed gas comprising at least oxygen, nitrogen, and water successively through the first and second layers, adsorbing water in the first layer of adsorbent, and adsorbing nitrogen in the second layer of adsorbent, wherein the mass transfer coefficient of water in the first layer is in the range of about 125 to about 400 sec?1 and the superficial contact time of the feed gas in the first layer is between about 0.08 and about 0.50 sec; and (c) withdrawing a product enriched in oxygen from the adsorber.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide an industrially viable PSA process that requires small volumes of molecular sieve carbon and feed air. In order to achieve the above object, the PSA process uses the molecular sieve carbon satisfying the following relationships (I) and (II). (1)ln C?0.325+5.14×ln {(0.64+0.098)×Q/(P+0.098)}??(I) (2)ln U?2.124?0.135×ln C??(II) where C indicates an oxygen level (ppm) in the nitrogen gas product; Q indicates a volume of nitrogen gas produced per minute per unit effective volume of a single adsorption column; P indicates an adsorption pressure (MPa); and U indicates a ratio of the volume of the feed air to the volume of the nitrogen gas produced.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a nanoporous hybrids formed by covalent bonding between a crystalline organic-inorganic hybrid and a gigantic mesoporous metal oxide, containing organic groups on the surface thereof, having a size of 10 nm or more. Since the covalently-bonded hybrid nanoporous composite has a large surface area, a multiple microporous structure, a large pore volume and includes an organic-inorganic hybrid having backbone flexibility, the covalently-bonded hybrid nanoporous composite can be used as materials for storing liquids and gases, such as hydrogen, methane and the like, and can be used as adsorbents, separating materials, catalysts, and the like. Further, the covalently-bonded hybrid nanoporous hybrids can be used in the application fields of biomolecule supporting, drug delivery, harmful material removal, nanoparticle supporter, sensors, catalysis, adsorbents, fluorescent materials, solar cells, and the like.

Abstract: A process for producing oxygen by using of three-stage pressure swing adsorption plants, wherein the process is used to separate nitrogen and oxygen from a feed air stream, the product can be oxygen or nitrogen or both of them. The process utilizes three-stage pressure swing adsorption plants which are serially connected. In the first stage, carbon dioxide, water and part of nitrogen are removed and nitrogen is concentrated. In the second stage, nitrogen is further separated from the effluent intermediate gas from the adsorption step in the adsorption towers of the first stage and oxygen is concentrated to the desired concentration. In the third stage, nitrogen and argon are further separated from the effluent oxygen-enriched mixture gas from the adsorption step in the adsorption towers of the second stage and the concentration of oxygen is raised to 95V % or more.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the separation of gases which comprises putting a mixture of gases in contact with a zeolite of the ESV type to obtain the selective adsorption of at least one of the gases forming the gaseous mixture. The present invention also relates to particular zeolitic compositions suitable as adsorbents.

Abstract: Methods of purifying hydrogen-containing materials are described. The methods may include the steps of providing a purifier material comprising silica. The silica may be heated at temperature of about 100° C. or more in a dry atmosphere to form activated silica. The activated silica may be contacted with a starting hydrogen-containing material, where the activated silica reduces a concentration of one or more impurity from the starting hydrogen-containing material to form the purified hydrogen-containing material, and where the activated silica does not decompose the purified hydrogen-containing material.

Abstract: A method of activating a molded Cu-ZSM5 zeolite adsorbent of the present invention includes: oxidizing a molded product of Cu-ZSM5 zeolite in the flow of air or a gas having an equivalent oxidizability to the air at a temperature of 250° C. to 550° C.; and then heat-treating the molded product of the Cu-ZSM5 zeolite in vacuum or the flow of an inert gas at a temperature of 550° C. to 800° C. According to the present invention, an adsorbent whose adsorption performance is not deteriorated can be obtained in the case where a molded product is produced using Cu-ZSM5 zeolite.

Abstract: An oxygen separator for separating oxygen from ambient air utilizing a vacuum swing adsorption process has a mass of less than 2.3 kg. A carrier is mountable on a person to support the oxygen separator for ambulatory use.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for reducing the carbon dioxide concentration in air of a closed or partially closed unit of space. The inventive method may comprise the steps of removing an air flow from the unit of space, guiding the air flow in a membrane system that may contain at least one membrane module having a CO2/O2 selectivity of greater than 2, removing the carbon dioxide permeated through the membrane, and returning the air flow that has been depleted of carbon dioxide in the membrane system to the unit of space. The inventive method may be optionally combined with an oxygen enrichment method. The invention also relates to corresponding devices for carrying out the inventive method.

Abstract: A high capacity adsorbent may be used for enriching oxygen concentration in an air stream. Such a high capacity adsorbent may be from about 2 to about 3 times lighter relative to the currently available technology. Furthermore, the high capacity adsorbent is readily capable of regeneration after deactivation by water vapor. Unlike current available immobilization technology in which clay binder was used to bind 13X zeolite and additional 10% organic binder was used to immobilize beads, the adsorbents of the present invention may be made using just an organic binder, thereby reducing pore spoilage caused by the clay binder. Further unlike conventional adsorbents, which may use sodium as its cation, the adsorbent of the present invention uses a lithium cation, thereby resulting in enhanced nitrogen adsorption performance.