Bergwerksverband Gmbh

Heinrich Munzner

Karl K Knoblauch

Harald Juntgen

Heinrich Heimbach

Werner Korbacher

Werner Peters

Dieter Zundorf

Hugo Horbel

An initial gaseous mixture of at least two components is passed through an adsorber which preferentially adsorbs one of the components. This initially loads the adsorber. Subsequently, another gaseous mixture, having a greater proportion of the preferentially adsorbed component than the initial gaseous mixture, is passed through the adsorber so as to additionally load the adsorber. Part of the gas in the adsorber is then removed. This initially unloads the adsorber and yields a first fraction containing both components, with the proportion of the preferentially adsorbed component being greater than that in the initial gaseous mixture. The remainder of the gas in the adsorber is removed next so as to completely unload the adsorber. This results in a second fraction including both components and wherein the proportion of the preferentially adsorbed component is greater than that in both the second gaseous mixture to be passed through the adsorber and the first fraction removed from the adsorber. The first fraction may be used for additionally loading the adsorber during a subsequent cycle. An advantageous arrangement for carrying out the process is also disclosed.

Process and arrangement for the enrichment of gases

An initial gaseous mixture of at least two components is passed through an adsorber which preferentially adsorbs one of the components. This initially loads the adsorber. Subsequently, another gaseous mixture, having a greater concentration of the preferentially adsorbed component than the initial gaseous mixture, is passed through the adsorber so as to additionally load the adsorber. Part of the gas in the adsorber is then removed. This initially unloads the adsorber and yields a first fraction containing both components with the concentration of the preferentially adsorbed component being greater than that in the initial gaseous mixture. Subsequently, part of the gas still remaining in the adsorber is removed so as to further unload the adsorber. This results in a second fraction including both components and wherein the concentration of the preferentially adsorbed component is greater than that in both the second gaseous mixture to be passed through the adsorber and the first fraction removed from the adsorber. Finally, the remainder of the gas in the adsorber is removed so as to completely unload the adsorber. This yields a third fraction including both components with the concentration of the preferentially adsorbed component being lower than that in the second fraction removed from the adsorber but greater than that in the initial gaseous mixture passed into the adsorber. The first and third fractions may be used for additionally loading the adsorber in a subsequent cycle. A preferred application is the enrichment of oxygen-containing gases, particularly air, which include a component of greater molecular size than oxygen. A preferred adsorber is molecular sieve coke which preferentially adsorbs the oxygen. The process permits air to be enriched to such an extent that the product fraction, namely, the second fraction, removed from the adsorber contains between 70 and 95 volume percent of oxygen.

Process for the enrichment of gases

Process for preparing carbon containing molecular sieves adapted for separating small molecular gases in particular oxygen from nitrogen which comprises treating coke having a content of volatile components of up to 5% at 600.degree.-900.degree.C with a hydrocarbon splitting off carbon whereby the split-off carbon is deposited in the carbon framework of the coke under narrowing of the existing pores.

Carbon containing molecular sieves

Porous coke is impregnated with an organic compound which remains in the pores thereby causing a reduction in the effective size of the same. This results in molecular sieve coke capable of separating different gases, particularly oxygen and nitrogen, and capable of adsorbing smaller gas molecules more rapidly than larger gas molecules. The organic compound has a boiling point of at least 200.degree.C as measured at atmospheric pressure and of no more than 450.degree.C as measured in vacuum.

Impregnation of coke with an organic compound to produce a molecular

Process for preparing carbon-containing molecular sieves adapted for separating small molecular gases, in particular oxygen, from nitrogen, which comprises treating coke having a content of volatile components of up to 5% at 600.degree. - 900.degree. C with a hydrocarbon which splits off carbon whereby the split-off carbon is deposited in the carbon framework of the coke thereby narrowing the existing pores.

Carbon-containing molecular sieves

Process for preparing carbon-containing molecular sieves adapted for separating small molecular gases, in particular oxygen, from nitrogen, which comprises treating coke having a content of volatile components of up to 5% at 600.degree. - 900.degree.C with a hydrocabon which splits off carbon whereby the split-off carbon is deposited in the carbon framework of the coke thereby narrowing the existing pores.

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Essen-Kray, Germany

Heinrich Munzner