Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.

Brian R Dunbobbin

Anthony A Cassano

Richard T Carlin

Donald C Erickson

James G Hansel

Pradip Rao

Barry L Werley

William R Brown

This invention relates to an improved process for the cryogenic separation of air and particularly with respect the separation of air in oxygen enriched zones within a distillation column. The improvement resides in utilizing aluminum packing in structured or random form in the oxygen enriched zones wherein the oxygen concentration ranges from about 80 to 96% by volume and optionally a sheet copper packing of structured or random form in the oxygen enriched zones, wherein the oxygen concentration is greater than 97% by volume. The aluminum packing may also be used in an argon column where argon is separated from oxygen by distillation.

Process for cryogenic air separation

Separation of oxygen from air is performed in a continuous, cyclic manner using vanadium bronze liquid slurries as reversible chemical absorbents, absorbing at elevated temperature and desorbing at lowered temperature.

High temperature oxygen recovery with reversible chemical reaction

The present invention is directed to catalysts for the absorptive separation of oxygen from oxygen-containing gas mixtures, such as air, using reversible chemical reaction systems, such as, ##STR1## The catalytic action is the result of the addition of transition metal oxides to the oxygen accepting system.

Catalysts for absorptive air separation

A process for the integration of a chemical absorption separation of oxygen and nitrogen from air with a combustion process is set forth wherein excess temperature availability from the combustion process is more effectively utilized to desorb oxygen product from the absorbent and then the sensible heat and absorption reaction heat is further utilized to produce a high temperature process stream. The oxygen may be utilized to enrich the combustion process wherein the high temperature heat for desorption is conducted in a heat exchange preferably performed with a pressure differential of less than 10 atmospheres which provides considerable flexibility in the heat exchange.

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Allentown, PA, United States of America

Brian R Dunbobbin