Crystalline zeolites in oxygen concentrators have differential selectivity with respect to the gaseous components of air, making it possible to remove nitrogen, argon and other trace elements from the feed air to the PSA process. Current oxygen concentrator technologies utilize NaX, CaX or LiX zeolites to selectively remove nitrogen from feed air in the PSA process. With such adsorbents, oxygen product purity is limited to nominally 95% because argon is not removed and concentrates in the product gas.
The Air Products’ pressure swing adsorption process and silver-exchanged lithium-x zeolite combine to enable the selective, initial adsorption of nitrogen over oxygen and argon and subsequently, the selective adsorption of argon over oxygen.
Description of the technology
Air Products is offering for license a crystalline silver-exchanged lithium-X zeolite material and associated Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) process that enable production of gaseous oxygen at greater than 99% oxygen purity. By selectively removing argon, the offering enables production of high purity oxygen, a relevant challenge facing designers and suppliers of medical oxygen concentrator technology.
Specifications
This process follows that of a typical pressure swing adsorption cyclic process with steps of adsorption, depressurization, evacuation, purge and repressurization. As seen in the figure, the inlet air stream is compressed and passed through a first zeolite, which selectively removes nitrogen from air. This nitrogen-depleted stream next passes through the silver-exchanged lithium-X zeolite, which preferentially removes argon. The highly enriched oxygen product gas collects into a storage tank and is ultimately inhaled by the user through a nasal cannula or mask. The evacuation step consists of the countercurrent venting of nitrogen and argon. In addition to enabling production of a high purity oxygen product, the use of the silver-exchanged lithium-X zeolite also removes trace undesirable feed air contaminants introduced to the PSA. Furthermore, silver zeolites exhibit antimicrobial properties which can reduce contaminants in the oxygen product.
Main advantages of its use
Applications
Additional information (attached documents)
Air Products (NYSE:APD) is a world-leading Industrial Gases company in operation for over 75 years. The Company’s core industrial gases business provides atmospheric and process gases and related equipment to manufacturing markets, including refining and petrochemical, metals, electronics, and food and beverage. Air Products is also the world’s leading supplier of liquefied natural gas process technology and equipment.
The Company had fiscal 2016 sales of $7.5 billion from continuing operations in 50 countries and has a current market capitalization of approximately $30 billion. Approximately 16,000 employees are making Air Products the world’s safest and best performing industrial gases company, providing sustainable offerings and excellent service to all customers.
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