Absorption process for producing oxygen and nitrogen and solution therefor
Process for the separation and purification of oxygen and nitrogen is disclosed which utilizes solutions of oxygen carriers to selectively absorb oxygen from a gaseous stream, leaving nitrogen as a byproduct. In the process, an oxygen carrier capable of reversibly binding molecular oxygen is dissolved in a solvent solution, which absorbs oxygen from an oxygen-containing gaseous feed stream such as atmospheric air and desorbs oxygen to a gaseous product stream. The feed stream is maintained at a sufficiently high oxygen pressure to keep the oxygen carrier in its oxygenated form during absorption, while the product stream is maintained at a sufficiently low oxygen pressure to keep the carrier in its deoxygenated form during desorption. In an alternate mode of operation, the carrier solution is maintained at a sufficiently low temperature and high oxygen pressure to keep the oxygen carrier in its oxygenated form during absorption, and at a sufficiently high temperature to keep the carrier in its deoxygenated form during desorption. Under such conditions, exceptionally high oxygen concentrations on the order of 95% to 99% are obtained, as well as a long carrier lifetime in excess of 3 months, making the process commercially feasible. 1 figure
- Research Organization:
- Bend Research Inc
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC06-79ER10337
- Assignee:
- Bend Research, Inc., OR (United States)
- Patent Number(s):
- US RE 33,352/E/
- Application Number:
- PAN: 6-848,032
- OSTI ID:
- 27738
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: DN: Reissue of US Pat. No. 4,451,270, which was issued May 29, 1984; PBD: 25 Sep 1990
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Absorption process for producing oxygen and nitrogen and solution therefor
Absorption process for producing oxygen and nitrogen and solution therefor