GB218974A - Improvements in or relating to the treatment of gases and the like - Google Patents

Abstract

218,974. Urbain, E. July 13, 1923, [Convention date]. Gases, separating mixtures of.-A process for the selective adsorption of gases by means of carbonaceous materials, consists in passing the gases through an apparatus containing moderately active carbonaceous material packed within or high boiling-point hydrocarbons; then passing the residue through an apparatus containing highly actve carbonaceous material packed within or about a nest of tubes, while the material is being indirectly cooled, for the adsorption of hydrocarbons of lower boiling point; and then extracting the last-mentioned hydrocarbons from the material by indirectly heating and simultaneously passing steam through it and/or subjecting it to reduced pressure. An apparatus for carrying out the latter part of the process comprises a casing 1 Laving a series of tubes 2 secured to two head plates. The adsorbent material is packed in the tubes and supported by porous plugs 3. Inlet and outlet pipes f, D, G, H are provided for heating and cooling fluids, such as steam or combustion gases, and water, air or other gases. The gaseous mixture to be adsorbed enters the apparatus at A and leaves at B or vice versa. By means of the pipes K, J. L direct heating or cooling of the adsorbent may be combined with the indirect methods. The recovery of the adsorbed gases may be facilitated by establishing a vacuum in the apparatus, and the adsorption may ba combined with a fractionation of the constituents of the gas mixture by the provision of a rectifying column. Also, a number of such units of apparatus may be arranged in series, and' the adsorbent may be packed about instead of within the tubes. Applications specified are the separation of hydrocarbons from distillation gases, for example benzene from coal gas and the recovery of volatile solvents.