Technique for surface oxidation of activated carbon

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein oxidation catalyst is a salt of a metal selected from the group consisting of copper(II), chromium(III), nickel(II) and mixtures thereof.

Claim 4

The method of claim 2 wherein said salt is selected from a group consisting of acetate, formate, oxalate, nitrate and mixtures thereof.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1 wherein said oxidizing acid is from about 20 to about 60 vol % nitric acid.

Claim 6

The method of claim 1 wherein said elevated temperature is in excess of 50° C.

Claim 7

An adsorbent produced by the activation of a carbon adsorbent; said activation comprising oxidizing the surface of said carbon adsorbent with a mild oxidizing acid in the presence of a metal oxidation catalyst at an elevated temperature and boiling the mixture of said carbon adsorbent, mild oxidizing acid and metal oxidation catalyst to dryness; then rinsing the surface oxidized carbon absorbent with water; and drying the rinsed surface oxidized carbon adsorbent.

Claim 8

An adsorbent produced by the activation of a carbon adsorbent; said activation comprising oxidizing the surface of said carbon adsorbent with a mild oxidizing acid in the presence of a metal oxidation catalyst at an elevated temperature and boiling the mixture of said carbon adsorbent, mild oxidizing acid and metal oxidation catalyst to dryness; then rinsing the surface oxidized carbon absorbent with water; and drying the rinsed surface oxidized carbon adsorbent.

Claim 9

The absorbent of claim 6 wherein said metal oxidation catalyst is a salt of a metal selected from the group consisting of copper(II), chromium(III), nickel(II) and mixtures thereof.

Claim 10

The adsorbent of claim 7 wherein said salt is an acetate.

Claim 11

The adsorbent of claim 6 wherein said mild oxidizing acid is from about 20 to about 60 vol % nitric acid.

Claim 12

The adsorbent of claim 6 wherein said elevated temperature is in excess of 50° C.

Claim 13

In a process for the removal of water or carbon dioxide from a gas stream containing water or carbon dioxide of the type wherein said gas stream containing water or carbon dioxide is contacted with a solid phase adsorbent under pressure-swing adsorption or thermal-swing adsorption processing conditions, the improvement comprising utilizing an adsorbent produced by the activation of a carbon adsorbent, said activation comprising oxidizing the surface of said carbon adsorbent with a mild oxidizing acid in the presence of a metal oxidation catalyst at an elevated temperature and boiling the mixture of said carbon adsorbent, mild oxidizing acid and metal oxidation catalyst to dryness; then rinsing the surface oxidized carbon adsorbent with water; and drying the rinsed surface oxidized carbon adsorbent.

Claim 14

In a process for the removal of water or carbon dioxide from a gas stream containing water or carbon dioxide of the type wherein said gas stream containing water or carbon dioxide is contacted with a solid phase adsorbent under pressure-swing adsorption or thermal-swing adsorption processing conditions, the improvement comprising utilizing an adsorbent produced by the activation of a carbon adsorbent, said activation comprising oxidizing the surface of said carbon adsorbent with a mild oxidizing acid in the presence of a metal oxidation catalyst at an elevated temperature and boiling the mixture of said carbon adsorbent, mild oxidizing acid and metal oxidation catalyst to dryness; then rinsing the surface oxidized carbon adsorbent with water; and drying the rinsed surface oxidized carbon adsorbent.