A 2-STAGE PSA FOR ARGON AND HYDROGEN RECOVERY FROM AMMONIA PURGE GAS

A two stage PSA process for argon and hydrogen recovery from ammonia p urge gas was developed. Appropriate adsorbents were selected by consid ering adsorption equilibrium and regeneration possibility. A continuou s process, which can treat about 100 Nm(3)/h of ammonia purge gas, was designed by applying the adsorption equilibrium and breakthrough test results. The continuous process consists of 2 stage PSA with 4 beds r espectively. Product hydrogen (>99%) can be obtained from the first st age during first period of adsorption step, and also from the second s tage. An intermediate product, argon and hydrogen mixture, is obtained from the first stage during the second period of adsorption step, and this is sent to the second stage to be separated into high purity arg on and hydrogen respectively. From the raw purge gas containing about 6% argon, argon is concentrated upto 14% through the first stage, and upto 97% through the second stage PSA.