Abstract: Gas separation by pressure swing adsorption (PSA) is performed within an apparatus having a plurality of adsorbers cooperating with first and second valves in a rotary PSA module, with the PSA cycle characterized by multiple intermediate pressure levels between the higher and lower pressures of the PSA cycle. Gas flows enter or exit the PSA module at the intermediate pressure levels as well as the higher and lower pressure levels, under substantially steady conditions of flow and pressure. The PSA module comprises a rotor containing laminated sheet adsorbers and rotating within a stator, with ported valve faces between the rotor and stator to control the timing of the flows entering or exiting the adsorbers in the rotor.

Abstract: Membrane filters for the collection and detection of air-borne microorganisms are made from gelatin treated with an osmoprotective agent and exhibit the capacity to at least double the number of viable bacteria captured in a given sample relative to conventional gelatin membrane filters.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fresh air filter that comprises a highly air-permissive two- or three-dimensional support made of a cross-linked polymeric foam which includes pores of large dimensions. The support comprises joining portions which are coated with a layer of ion-exchange globules.

Abstract: An unique filtration device (10) which removes acidic contaminants such as H2S and SO2 from a fluid stream through the use of partially hollow wicking fibers (20) impregnated with an effective amount of alkaline-generating chemical compounds, preferably also containing an effective amount of a compound with elements from Group II and Group 6-12 in +2 oxidation state, and most preferably also containing an effective amount of solid fine particles (18). A nonwoven filter mat (12) is formed from a plurality of the elongated fibers (20) each having at least one internal channel (22) connected to the fiber outer surface via an elongated opening (24). The fluid stream containing the acidic gas phase contaminants is directed over the nonwoven filter mat (12) whereby said plurality of small solid particles (18) and reservoir of active chemical reagents disposed in the open channels (22) communicate through the elongated opening (24) with the fluid flow path and absorbs the acidic gas phase contaminants.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for filtering contaminants, such as particulates and vapor phase contaminants, from a confined environment such as electronic or optical devices susceptible to contamination (e.g. computer disk drives) by incorporating multiple filtration functions into a unitary filter. Filtration functions include a combination of inlet, or breather, filter and recirculation filter. Moreover, adsorbent functions can be added to the filter depending on desired functionality within the enclosure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a plate filter element for an air filter comprising a zigzag-shaped, folded strip material made of an activated carbon nonwoven material. The aim of the invention is to improve the dimensional stability of the activated carbon nonwoven material, especially in the area of an end fold. To this end, the invention provides that an end fold of the strip material comprises a sealing which is formed by gluing or fusing an upper side with an underside of the activated carbon nonwoven material.

Abstract: A filter for gases, particularly for ventilation, is provided with elongated flow channels (3) which are at least partly formed by superimposing material layers (1) between which the flow channels (3) are formed so that their starting ends are open to a gas inlet (A) and their terminal ends are open to a gas outlet (B), wherein the gas flow between the starting ends and the terminal ends in the channels (3) is arranged parallel to the planes of the material layers (1), and the layers contain an adsorbent in which impurities are adsorbed from the flow in the channels (3). The material layers have, on top of each other, at least one support layer (1a) and a porous adsorbent layer (1b) kept in place by the support layer (1a). The channels (3) are formed between spacers (2) which contain porous adsorbent material, constitute elevated areas on the material layers (1), and keep them separate at the channels (3).

Abstract: This invention relates to a method, apparatus and composition for cleaning the atmosphere; and more particularly to a stationary substrate comprising at least one atmosphere contacting surface having a pollutant treating catalytic material coated thereon. Preferably, said catalytic material is capable of converting ozone to oxygen. Said coated substrate is advantageously non-flammable and flexible.

Abstract: An integrated air filter and hydrocarbon adsorbing apparatus includes an air filter comprising a filter media disposed on a screen support and an air permeable hydrocarbon adsorbing material disposed between the filter media and the screen support at the air stream outlet end of the apparatus. The hydrocarbon adsorbing material is situated to adsorb hydrocarbon emissions at the clean air side of an air stream flowing through the apparatus. The treated air stream exits through the air stream outlet, typically to an inlet of an engine air induction system. In an alternate embodiment, the integrated air filter and hydrocarbon adsorbing apparatus comprises a hydrocarbon adsorbing coating directly disposed on a portion of the air filter adjacent the air stream outlet.

Abstract: A property transfer assembly for transferring properties from a first flowing fluid to a second flowing fluid comprising a plurality of spacer components in a stacked relationship including at least one first spacer component defining a first path of travel for the first flow and at least one second spacer component defining a second path of travel for the second flow, the first and second spacer components being separated in a spaced relationship; and a transfer sheet located between the spacer components and adapted to transfer heat therethrough from the warmer to the cooler flow and to transfer moisture therethrough from the moister to the drier fluid.

Abstract: A drying material disposed in the passage of a compressed air system for removing moisture from air or gas includes a plurality of semi-rigid porous substrates impregnated with lithium chloride. The drying material is formed by preparing a saturated solution of lithium chloride and a nonflammable solvent. Porous substrata are contacted with the saturated solution to wet the substrata surface. The wet substrata are heated at a sufficient temperature for a sufficient duration to drive off excess liquid from the substrate. A desiccant comprising lithium chloride impregnated substrata is produced.

Abstract: A sensor comprises a substrate and a polymeric film disposed on the substrate. The polymeric film comprises at least one hardblock component and at least one softblock component. The invention also sets forth a method for enhancing detection of a target compound by a sensor. The method comprises disposing a polymeric film on a surface of the sensor, in which the polymeric film enhances detection of target compounds not normally sensed by a sensor without the polymeric film. The polymeric film comprises at least one hardblock component and at least one softblock component.

Abstract: A ventilation and dehumidification system for ventilating fresh air to a conditioned space. The system is comprised of a unitary heat transfer desiccant wheel for dehumidifying incoming air by exchanging moisture from an inflow current of air with an outflow current of air. The unitary heat recovery wheel is able to transfer heat between the two air currents when the wheel is spun at a faster speed. The unitary heat transfer desiccant wheel is both regenerated and defrosted by a regenerative heater which is placed to heat the outflow current of air before the outflow current passes through the unitary heat transfer desiccant wheel. The unitary heat transfer desiccant wheel is spun at a slow speed to accomplish more dehumidification, and at a fast speed to accomplish more heat recovery. The system includes at least two blowers in order to motivate the inflow and outflow currents of air.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an air filter having an inorganic material layer in which the following adsorbent is fixed on the surface of the supporter using powder of an inorganic substance as a binder. That is, the adsorbent is prepared by impregnating a salt of an inorganic acid to powder of an inorganic substance consisting of at least one of diatom earth, silica, alumina, a mixture of silica and alumina, aluminum silicate, activated alumina, porous glass, activated clay, activated bentonite, or synthetic zeolite. The air filter according to the present invention can adsorb and remove both of gaseous basic impurities and gaseous organic impurities, thus making a very effective filter for manufacturing semiconductor and LCD.

Abstract: An odor adsorptive filter for use in refrigerators, freezers, and/or other cold storage units, is removably securable to one of the interior walls or panels of the unit and adsorbs odoriferous matter from spoiled foods, strong food odors, etc. as the air within the unit circulates. The present filter comprises a filter housing which is removably secured within the refrigerator or freezer by suction cups which adhere securely to the smooth surfaces of such units, without damage or marring of the surface. The filter element is in turn removably secured within the filter housing, for replacement as necessary. The filter element comprises a woven or nonwoven fiber material, with the fibers being coated or impregnated with an odor adsorbent material such as baking soda and/or activated carbon in some form. The filter element, or the housing, may also include a pleasant scent which will permeate the air in the cold storage device as unpleasant odors are adsorbed by the filter element.

Abstract: A dehumidifying material comprising: 90.0 parts by weight to 99.9 parts by weight of silicon dioxide which is silica gel; and 0.1 part by weight to 10.0 parts by weight of an iron oxide or a mixture of the iron oxide and another metal oxide and a dehumidifying element incorporating an inorganic fiber sheet supporting the dehumidifying material, the dehumidifying material being obtained by allowing alkali silicate or alkokysilane to adhere to an inorganic fiber sheet to gel the inorganic fiber sheet, by immersing the inorganic fiber sheet in solution containing iron salt or iron and other metal salt and by drying the inorganic fiber sheet.

Abstract: A filter element for adsorbing gaseous components of a gas stream comprises a fabric formed from fibres of a polymeric material in which the sizes of individual fibres is not more than about 20 &mgr;m. The fibres are treated by a copolymerisation reaction with a vinyl monomer which is capable of reacting with an acid or a base to form a salt directly or indirectly under conditions which result in grafting of the vinyl monomer to the surfaces of the fibres.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing the amount of unused ammonia (“ammonia slip”) in instances where ammonia is provided to SNCR and/or SCR processes for reducing NOx pollution in flue gas produced by a fossil fuel burning facility. Such a facility incorporates a rotary regenerative heat exchanger (i.e. an air preheater and/or a gas to gas preheater) for absorbing heat from the gas flow on one side of the heat exchanger, and releasing such absorbed heat to heat the gas flow on the other side of the heat exchanger. The invention herein includes absorbent/desorbent media carried by at least some of the elements of the heat exchanger. The media is active to adsorb at least a portion of the ammonia slip before the gas flow is exhausted to the environment, and to desorb essentially an equilibrium portion of such adsorbed ammonia into gas flow.

Abstract: A filter medium has a function member accommodated between two fiber layers. A production method for manufacturing a filter medium includes the steps of: preparing a first fiber layer having a shape identical to that of a side surface of the filter medium; disposing a function member on a surface of the first fiber layer; and forming a second fiber layer by spinning partially melted fibers onto the function member disposed on the surface of the first fiber layer. Therefore, it is unnecessary to carry out press-forming in a state in which the function member is sandwiched between nonwoven fabrics, and a countermeasure to prevent the function member from falling out and a countermeasure to prevent the nonwoven fabric from being torn by the function member are unnecessary.

Abstract: An air filtering device includes an inner seat member, an outer seat member, and a multi-layer filter medium. The inner seat member has opposed first and second sides and a plurality of first air passages extending therethrough from the first side to the second side. The outer seat member has opposed third and fourth sides and a plurality of second air passages extending therethrough from the third side to the fourth side. The multi-layer filter medium is sandwiched between the second side of the inner seat member and the third side of the outer seat member. The multi-layer filter medium has a polypropylene fabric layer, a far-infrared radiation material layer, and an activated carbon fiber layer connected to one another. The first air passages are registered with the second air passages.

Abstract: A chemical filter is provided with an adsorbent filter medium for removing gaseous impurities and agglutinating organic substances in the air. The adsorbent filter medium is of a corrugated honeycomb structure comprising fiber material and is a fiber base paper having an interfiber void ratio of 80 to 95% upon which a gas adsorbent or a gas reactant has been deposited. As a result, using fiber which contains substantially no boric oxide as the absorbent fiber medium enables contaminants generated from the chemical filter itself to be removed, and therefore improves the yield of semiconductors and precision electronic components manufactured. Moreover, the amount of active carbon deposited is markedly high, and thus, if impregnated with a reactant, the amount of reactant deposited is able to be increased, leading to superior removal performance with respect to gaseous contaminants as well as reduced pressure loss and longer life of the filter.

Abstract: A deodorizing air filter media which is composed of a web of non-woven fibers having myriad discrete particles of a deodorizing component, such as sodium bicarbonate, uniformly dispersed throughout the thickness of the web. The media is fabricated by a two step process, wherein a non-woven web is passed through a first aqueous solution including a binder, and then dried to cured the binder and anchor the crossing points of the fibers in the web. Next, the dried web is passed through a second aqueous solution having a binder in a reduced concentration, together with a particulate deodorizing component suspended therein. The web is then again dried to cure the newly added binder and anchor the particulate deodorizing component to the fibers.

Abstract: A method of separating a first gaseous component from a gas mixture comprising the first gaseous component and a second gaseous component comprising passing the gaseous mixture into an adsorption zone containing an adsorbent material capable of preferentially adsorbing at least one of the gaseous components in the gaseous mixture, to separate the first gaseous component from the second gaseous component wherein the adsorbent material is a monolithic having a plurality of channels throughout, said channels being aligned parallel to the direction of flow of the gaseous mixture and having a wall thickness of less than 1 mm and (b) recovering the non-preferentially adsorbed gaseous component from the adsorption zone. Preferably, the adsorption zone comprises multiple layers of monolithic structures in the shape of a wheel stacked one upon the other in a direction parallel to the direction of the flow of the gaseous mixture and form by spirally winding a sheet of corrugated adsorbable material about a hub.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved molded filter which performs multiple filtration functions within an enclosed environment, such as within a computer hard disk drive. In a first embodiment, the filter is capable of removing particulate contaminants from both incoming (external) air and recirculating air by performing both breather and recirculation functions when placed over a breather hole in a disk drive. In an alternative embodiment, the filter also incorporates an adsorbent material which allows it to remove both particulate and vapor phase contaminants from incoming (external) air and recirculating air within the disk drive.

Abstract: The filer contains about 1-15% lithium hydroxide and about 85-99% hopcalite material, having a particle size approximately 20 to 100 mesh, and can be used in combination with a chemical oxygen generator for removing chlorine gas and carbon monoxide.

Abstract: An apparatus for pressure and temperature swing adsorption processes is described. Such processes include pressure swing adsorption, temperature swing adsorption, and sorption cooling. The apparatus, a spirally wound module, provides high efficiency gas separations by reducing the differential pressure required between the adsorption pressure and the desorption pressure. The apparatus comprises an adsorption zone containing at least one adsorbent paper layer containing a selective adsorbent and an adsorbent spacer spirally wound about a hollow mandrel and in intimate thermal contact with a heat transfer zone. For pressure and temperature swing processes, the adsorption zone is disposed on the outside of the heat transfer zone, and for sorption cooling processes, the heat transfer zone is disposed on the outside of the adsorption zone and the adsorption zone is contained in an envelope-like leaf.

Abstract: A multi-bed PSA pressure vessel includes a hollow tubular body having one or more end plates releasably secured thereto. Secured to the end plate(s) are pipes which extend along the interior of the hollow tubular body. Each of the pipes terminates at a location along the length of the tubular body different from the remaining pipes. In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of perforated spacing flanges are secured to the pipe and some adjacent flanges defining between them a space for receiving adsorbing sieve material.

Abstract: Channel flow filtration media possessing high efficiency and low pressure drop is formed from a plurality of filtration layers at least some of which include a multi-dimensional channel pattern having a plurality of continuous, tortuous channels and a multi-dimensional edge at each end of the plurality of channels formed therein. The filtration medium is configured as a stack with the multi-dimensional edge of the channel pattern forming a plurality of inlets open through a first face of the stack, a plurality of outlets open through a second face of the stack, and a corresponding plurality of disruptive fluid pathways passing from the inlets through the stack to the outlets. The filtration layers may be formed from a non-woven material, such as a carbon loaded multi-layer BMF web capable of adsorption of undesired vapors and odors from a fluid.

Abstract: A bi-directional filter has a pair of flapper-type check valve assemblies 20, 21 for directing fluid flow unidirectionally through a centrally supported molded desiccant core 22. Each check valve assembly is a three part structure spot-welded into a unitary assembly having a centering support plate, a core support cup and an intermediate flapper valve plate. A depth-type filter media circumferentially surrounds the desiccant core and extends between the check valve assembly on either end of the core for providing filtering for the fluid prior to entering the molded desiccant core. A depth-type filter media 80, 81 is also provided at each axial end of the core for providing fine filtration of the fluid after the fluid has passed through the core. The outer filter media is arranged to allow a portion of fluid therein to bypass the desiccant core.

Abstract: A method of separating a first gaseous component from a gas mixture comprising the first gaseous component and a second gaseous component comprising passing the gaseous mixture into an adsorption zone containing an adsorbent material capable of preferentially adsorbing at least one of the gaseous components in the gaseous mixture, to separate the first gaseous component from the second gaseous component wherein the adsorbent material is a monolith having a plurality of channels throughout, the channels being aligned parallel to the direction of flow of the gaseous mixture and having a wall thickness of less than 1 mm and (b) recovering the non-preferentially adsorbed gaseous component from the adsorption zone. Preferably, the adsorption zone comprises multiple layers of monolithic structures in the shape of a wheel stacked one upon the other in a direction parallel to the direction of the flow of the gaseous mixture and form by spirally winding a sheet of corrugated adsorbable material about a hub.

Abstract: The invention relates to a composite enthalpy exchanger useful for transferring or removing latent and sensible heat from a gaseous stream. This enthalpy exchanger consists of a cellulose-based substrate impregnated with a polymeric desiccant. Also provided is a method of manufacture of the enthalpy exchanger wherein the process for synthesizing the polymer on the substrate is disclosed.

Abstract: An adsorbent pouch assembly for removing gaseous contaminants and impurities from a gas stream. The assembly is particularly designed for non-adhesively mounting into the internal enclosure of a disk drive.

Abstract: A combined filter, for removing solid particles and noxious gases from air to be delivered into the cabin of a vehicle, as part of a ventilating, heating and/or air conditioning system, comprises two layers of a non-woven tissue such as polypropylene, between which are deposited activated carbon granules. The two layers of non-woven tissue are interleaved at least partially, so as to trap the granules between them.

Abstract: An air filter for effectively filtering bacteria, fungi and viruses from the air. The air filter comprising of a carrier substrate impregnated with iodine resins effectively immobilizes and attenuates bacteria, fungi and viruses contained in passing air. The air filter may be employed in combination with a multi-layered air filter to provide a filter which effectively purifies passing air of a variety of contaminants. The air filter provides a safe and effective method for the removal of bacteria, fungi and viruses from the air.

Abstract: Pressure swing adsorption separation of a feed gas mixture, to obtain a purified product gas of the less strongly adsorbed fraction of the feed gas mixture, is performed in a plurality of preferably an even number of adsorbent beds, with each adsorbent bed communicating at its product end directly to a variable volume expansion chamber, and at its feed end by directional valves to a feed compressor and an exhaust vacuum pump. For high frequency operation of the pressure swing adsorption cycle, a high surface area layered support is used for the adsorbent. The compressor and vacuum pump pistons may be integrated with the cycle, reciprocating at twice the cycle frequency. Alternative configurations of the layered adsorbent beds are disclosed.

Abstract: A chemical preconcentrator is disclosed with applications to chemical sensing and analysis. The preconcentrator can be formed by depositing a resistive heating element (e.g. platinum) over a membrane (e.g. silicon nitride) suspended above a substrate. A coating of a sorptive material (e.g. a microporous hydrophobic sol-gel coating or a polymer coating) is formed on the suspended membrane proximate to the heating element to selective sorb one or more chemical species of interest over a time period, thereby concentrating the chemical species in the sorptive material. Upon heating the sorptive material with the resistive heating element, the sorbed chemical species are released for detection and analysis in a relatively high concentration and over a relatively short time period. The sorptive material can be made to selectively sorb particular chemical species of interest while not substantially sorbing other chemical species not of interest.

Abstract: The adsorption of at least one component of a gas mixture is improved by passing the gas through an adsorption zone wherein the adsorbent is distributed in rectilinear channels that stepwise both diminish in transverse size and hold a diminished weight of adsorbent. An adsorption zone with only two steps or stages of reduced channel size and reduced adsorbent weight in the flow direction of a gas passed therethrough permits much greater capture of the adsorbate component with an equivalent total weight of adsorbent when compared with the same adsorption zone with a single channel size and a uniform weight of adsorbent. Three or more stages of diminishing channel size and adsorbent weight in the flow direction of the gas passed therethrough may be chosen for separating some gas mixtures.

Abstract: A system for circulating air which includes particles, bacterial organisms, and odoriferous material includes a fan coupled to ducting of the air circulation system for causing movement of air in a stream through the ducting; a filter holder configured to hold an air filtering device supported within the air stream; and an air filtering device for removing from the circulating air the particles, bacterial organisms, and odoriferous material. The air filtering device may include multiple filter elements having multiple layers of differing filtering materials, which may include activated carbon and potassium permanganate.

Abstract: A semiconductor manufacturing system includes a getter-based gas purifier coupled in flow communication with a gas distribution network for a semiconductor fabrication facility. The gas distribution network supplies purified gas to at least one wafer processing chamber in the semiconductor fabrication facility. The gas purifier includes a getter column having a metallic vessel with an inlet, an outlet, and a containment wall extending between the inlet and the outlet. Getter material which purifies gas flowing therethrough by sorbing impurities therefrom is disposed in the vessel. A first temperature sensor is disposed in a top portion of the getter material. The first temperature sensor is located in a melt zone to detect rapidly the onset of an exothermic reaction which indicates the presence of excess impurities in the incoming gas to be purified. A second temperature sensor is disposed in a bottom portion of the getter material.

Abstract: An air filter, a method for manufacturing the same, and also a high efficiency air cleaning apparatus employing the same are disclosed. The air filter includes a supporter and an inorganic material layer that is formed by fixing the powder of the fraipontite mineral to the surface of the supporter, using the powder of an inorganic substance as a binder. The method for manufacturing the filter includes the steps of immersing a supporter in a suspension in which the powder of the fraipontite mineral and the powder of an inorganic substance as a binder are dispersed as the suspensoid, and drying the supporter impregnated with the suspensoid, thereby forming an inorganic material layer fixed to the surface of the supporter. The fraipontite mineral adsorbs and removes gaseous acid or basic impurities in the air while the inorganic substance as a component of the inorganic material layer works as an adsorbent against gaseous organic impurities contained in the space of the air cleaning apparatus.

Abstract: An adsorbent filter including compression molded particulate adsorbent construction is provided. The compression molded particulate adsorbent construction contains a particulate adsorbent and a sufficient amount of binder to retain the particulate adsorbent in a non-free flowing form. The adsorbent filter preferably includes a compression molded particulate adsorbent construction as described, positioned within an outer, porous cover. Preferably the outer, porous cover includes expanded porous polytetrafluoroethylene. In certain preferred applications, the adsorbent filter is positioned within a housing defining an internal volume and including therein electronic component(s), such that the adsorbent filter protects the internal volume of the housing, and components therein, from damage. The typical application is as a disk drive adsorbent filter. A preferred method for preparing an adsorbent filter according to the present invention is provided.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are described for removing vapor phase contaminants from a gas stream by placing a porous element having a sorbent material into ductwork through which the gas stream passes. In a first mode of operation, vapor phase contaminants are adsorbed by the sorbent. In a second mode of operation, the porous element is cleaned of any accumulated deposits, for example fly ash, while in place without having to stop the gas flow. In a third mode of operation, the sorbent can be regenerated in place and without having to stop the gas flow by heating and collecting the desorbed contaminants. This invention is particularly suited for the removal of vapor phase mercury from flue gas generated by a combustion process.

Abstract: An air cleaning apparatus such as a clean room or the like having an air circulation mechanism which circulates the humidity controlled air through a predetermined air circulation path, wherein the air circulation path is provided with a filter which has a hydrophobic zeolite layer formed on its base filter media surface and another filter which is disposed downstream from the filter having a hydrophobic zeolite layer and is used for removing particulate impurities contained in the circulating air. According to this air cleaning apparatus, gaseous organic impurities and particulate impurities contained in the air circulating in the air cleaning apparatus can be removed without lowering the humidity of the circulating air. Furthermore, since this air cleaning apparatus includes no activated charcoal which is inflammable, the apparatus is excellent from the standpoint of disaster prevention.

Abstract: A filter is provided which includes an organic vapor adsorbing layer, a first particulate removal layer, and a second particulate removal layer. The organic vapor adsorbing layer includes porous adsorbent beads which allow air or gas to flow therethrough with little resistance and provide increased surface area by virtue of the pores. The particulate removal layer can be made from an electrostatic and/or polytetraflouroethylene. The filter can have a figure of merit greater than about 10 and a capacity for permanently adsorbing organic vapors, wherein the figure of merit is calculated based upon a fractional efficiency determined for particles having a size of 0.3 .mu.m in an air flow having a velocity of 10.5 ft./min and for Frazier permeability at 0.5 inches H.sub.2 O.

Abstract: The filter contains about 1-5% lithium hydroxide and about 85-99% hopcalite material, having a particle size of approximately 20 to 100 mesh, and can be used in combination with a chemical oxygen generator for removing chlorine gas and carbon monoxide.

Abstract: A semiconductor manufacturing system includes a getter-based gas purifier coupled in flow communication with a gas distribution network for a semiconductor fabrication facility. The gas distribution network supplies purified gas to at least one wafer processing chamber in the semiconductor fabrication facility. The gas purifier includes a getter column having a metallic vessel with an inlet, an outlet, and a containment wall extending between the inlet and the outlet. Getter material which purifies gas flowing therethrough by sorbing impurities therefrom is disposed in the vessel. A first temperature sensor is disposed in a top portion of the getter material. The first temperature sensor is located in a melt zone to detect rapidly the onset of an exothermic reaction which indicates the presence of excess impurities in the incoming gas to be purified. A second temperature sensor is disposed in a bottom portion of the getter material.

Abstract: A process, composition and apparatus for the removal of water from moist non-corrosive gases (such as those containing oxygen or CO.sub.2) down to .ltoreq.10-20 ppb water concentration are described. The dehydrating agent is an oxide or salt of an electropositive metal and has a surface area of at least 140 m.sup.2 /g, preferably 140-500 m.sup.2 /g, is compatible with the gas, and preferably is capable of dehydrating such gases to .ltoreq.1 ppb, preferably to as low as 500 ppt. The electropositive metal will be a Group 3b, 4b or lanthanide metal or vanadium. The preferred agent is a high surface area titania, zirconia, yttria or vanadia, with titania most preferred. The dehydrating agent can be in the form of a pelleted or granular bulk material or a coating on or within the pores of a substrate. The agent is retained in a simple container which is easily installed in a gas supply line for the gas, such as to a gas- or vapor-deposition manufacturing unit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for the separation of non-polar organic molecules from fluids which utilize certain hydrocarbon block copolymers having soft and hard segments as absorbents. By employing hydrocarbon block copolymer having a particular concentration of soft and hard segments, optimum absortion is achieved while maintaining the mechanical structure of the absorbent so that it can withstand high fluid flow rates.

Abstract: Pressure swing adsorption separation of a feed gas mixture, to obtain a purified product gas of the less strongly adsorbed fraction of the feed gas mixture, is performed with a cooperating set of "N" adsorbers in a rotary assembly, with each adsorber communicating at its product end directly to a rotary cyclic displacement chamber, and at its feed end by rotary distributor valve ports to a rotary piston feed compressor and a rotary piston exhaust vacuum pump. The compressor and vacuum pump are integrated with the cycle, and rotate at "N" times the cycle frequency. Alternative adsorber configurations for high frequency operation are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention comprises a PSA apparatus for the separation of a heavy component from a light component in a feed stream. The apparatus includes an adsorbent bed comprising either a mixture of adsorbents or composite adsorbent particles wherein each particle comprises two or more adsorbents. At least one of the adsorbents is comparatively weak and the other is comparatively strong. Another embodiment of the invention is a PSA prepurifier having a bed of adsorbent material which comprises a mixture of, or composite adsorbent particles wherein each particle comprises at least two adsorbents, at least one of the adsorbents being comparatively strong and at least another of the adsorbents being comparatively weak.