Vapor adsorption process

Claim 2

The process of claim 1 wherein the adsorbent material is selected from the group consisting of activated carbon, activated alumina, silica gel and Sorbeads.

Claim 3

the bed is cooled by contacting with a cooling gas stream prior to again being contacted with the inlet gas stream; the improvement which comprises: contacting said bed during the coolIng step with water vapor, the water vapor having the property of being displaced from the bed by the alkanes having two to five carbon atoms during contacting of the inlet gas stream and the bed and having a heat of desorption equal to or greater than the heat of adsorption of the alkanes having two to about five carbon atoms on a weight per weight basis so that when the bed is contacted with the inlet gas stream the water vapor is displaced by the alkanes having two to about five carbon atoms thereby maintaining the temperature of the bed at a relatively constant level.

Claim 4

An improved cyclic vapor adsorption process for the adsorption of alkanes having two to about five carbon atoms per molecule from an inlet gas stream comprising the alkanes plus methane which comprises the steps of: contacting one of a plurality of solid adsorbent beds with the inlet gas stream so that the alkanes contained therein are adsorbed on said bed and water vapor, previously adsorbed on said bed having a heat of desorption equal to or greater than the heat of adsorption of said alkanes on a weight per weight basis, is displaced from said bed thereby maintaining the temperature of the bed at a minimum level; simultaneously contacting another of the beds with a heated regenerated gas stream so that the alkanes are desorbed therefrom; simultaneously contacting yet other of the beds with a cooling gas stream containing the water vapor so that the bed is cooled and the water vapor is adsorbed on the bed preparatory to being contacted with said inlet gas streams; and cycling the inlet gas stream, regeneration gas stream, and cooling gas stream containing water vapor so that the bed just contacted with said inlet gas stream is contacted with said regeneration gas stream, the bed just contacted with said cooling gas stream containing water vapor is contacted with said inlet gas stream and the bed just contacted with said regeneration gas stream is contacted with the cooling gas stream containing water vapor.

Claim 5

The process of claim 3 wherein the solid adsorbent is selected from the group consisting of activated carbon, activated alumina, silica gel and Sorbeads.