Process for the separation of a gaseous mixture

Claim 2

A process according to claim 1 including the step of using a feed gas which is a mixture of ethane and ethylene and said granulated adsorbent is activated carbon.

Claim 3

A process according to claim 1 including controlling the rate of the downwardly moving granulated adsorbent bed.

Claim 4

A process according to claim 1 wherein the rectification effect is performed in said rectification section by recirculating said external reflux at an appropriate rate and by elevating to an appropriate temperature.

Claim 5

A process according to claim 2 wherein the first fraction of the bottom product is withdrawn continuously from said external reflux and a secondary fraction of the bottom product is collected by performing stage-wise desorption of the adsorbent collected in said adsorbtion bins whereby high purity of bottom and top products can be attained.

Claim 6

A process for separating a feed gas consisting of various components to a top product, consisting of the least adsorbable or a group of the least adsorbable components, and to a bottom product consisting of the most adsorbable or a group of the most adsorbable components and which consists of the steps of introducing the feed gas into a vertical column at a feed point for flow counter-current to a gravity flow of a granular adsorbent bed downwardly of the column at a temperature above the condensation temperature of the feed gas, passing said feed gas through an adsorption zone in the column and withdrawing the least adsorbable components as a top product, subjecting the adsorbent bed below the feed point to a temperature increase of not less than about 20* C. and forming a rectification section in a lower portion of the column, withdrawing the desorbed gases resulting from said temperature increase at a point in the rectification section, forming an external reflux from said desorbed gases by recirculation to a lower portion of the rectification section at a rate and heating a fraction of the desorbed gases to such an elevated temperature as to provide said temperature increase of said rectification section, withdrawing the remainder of said desorbed gases as a first fraction of the bottom product, collecting the adsorbent at the lower end of the column, performing a desorption action on the absorbent, and collecting the desorbed gases as a secondary fraCtion of the bottom product.

Claim 7

A process according to claim 7 wherein said feed is characterized by linear or quasilinear adsorption isotherms.

Claim 8

A process according to claim 8 including continuously withdrawing said first fraction of the bottom product from said external reflux and a secondary fraction of the bottom product is collected by performing intermittent desorption of the adsorbent collected.