METHOD FOR XENON SEPARATION FROM GASEOUS MIXTURE Russian patent published in 2005 - IPC

FIELD: cryogenic equipment, particularly for pure xenon production.

SUBSTANCE: method involves catalytic burning out hydrocarbons from gaseous mixture; removing moisture and carbon dioxide by sorption process; preliminary cooling and low-temperature rectifying the mixture with obtaining pure xenon and delivering pure xenon to consumer. Before carrying out catalytic burning out process initial gaseous mixture containing xenon is supplied to catalytic reactor to perform adsorption operation. The catalytic reactor is filled with at least one layer of adsorbent having a capacity for absorbing xenon 8-10 times greater than capacity for absorbing other components of gaseous mixture. Gas mixture composition is continuously determined at catalytic reactor outlet. Gas mixture exiting the catalytic reactor during adsorption process is discharged in atmosphere. Adsorption process is continued up to emergence of xenon in gaseous mixture at catalytic reactor outlet. Then adsorbent is regenerated. During adsorbent regeneration xenon is desorbed along with continuous supplying heat at temperature of 333-353 K. Desorption process is continued up to discontinuance of xenon extraction from adsorbent. Xenon and associated gases extracted from adsorbent during desorption process performing are used to carry out catalytic burning out operation. The obtained xenon has 99.99999% purity degree and the extraction ratio thereof is 0.99.

EFFECT: improved xenon purification and increased xenon extraction ratio.

13 cl, 1 dwg