Nitrous oxide regenerable room temperature purifier and method

Abstract

A nitrous oxide room temperature purification method, apparatus and system utilizing at least partially oxidized nickel. In an embodiment, a room temperature regenerable N 2 O purifier includes a vessel having an inlet and outlet, an active portion being at least partially filled with a purification material comprising nickel oxide and optional elemental nickel, wherein the weight ratio between the nickel oxide and the optional elemental nickel is equal or higher than 3 and the surface area of the nickel oxide and the optional elemental nickel is equal or higher than 50 m 2 /g.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for the purification of N 2 O comprising feeding a N 2 O gaseous stream to a vessel having an inlet and outlet, the vessel being at least partially filled with a purification material comprising nickel oxide and optional elemental nickel, wherein the weight ratio between the nickel oxide and the optional elemental nickel is equal or higher than 3 and the surface area of the nickel oxide and the optional elemental nickel is equal or higher than 50 m 2 /g. 
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1  characterized in that it is carried out at room temperature. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 2  wherein the weight ratio between the nickel oxide and the optional elemental nickel is equal or higher than 5 and the surface area of the nickel oxide and the optional elemental nickel is equal or higher than 100 m 2 /g. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 3  wherein the purification material essentially consists of nickel oxide. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 4  wherein the purification material is supported. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 5  wherein the purification material is supported on at least one of amorphous silica and magnesium oxide. 
     
     
         7 . A room temperature regenerable N 2 O purifier comprising a vessel having an inlet and outlet, an active portion being at least partially filled with a purification material comprising nickel oxide and optional elemental nickel, wherein the weight ratio between the nickel oxide and the optional elemental nickel is equal or higher than 3 and the surface area of the nickel oxide and the optional elemental nickel is equal or higher than 50 m 2 /g. 
     
     
         8 . A room temperature regenerable N 2 O purifier according to  claim 7  wherein the weight ratio between the nickel oxide and the optional elemental nickel is equal or higher than 5 and the surface area of the nickel oxide and the optional elemental nickel is equal to or higher than 100 m 2 /g. 
     
     
         9 . A room temperature regenerable N 2 O purifier according to  claim 7  wherein the purification material is supported. 
     
     
         10 . A room temperature regenerable N 2 O purifier according to  claim 9  wherein the purification material is supported on at least one of amorphous silica and magnesium oxide. 
     
     
         11 . A room temperature regenerable N 2 O purifier according to  claim 7  comprising heaters and temperature control for carrying out the regeneration of purification material. 
     
     
         12 . A room temperature regenerable N 2 O purifier according to  claim 7  wherein the active portion delimits a volume having a length L and a width W, wherein the ratio L/W between the length and the width is comprised between 1 and 15. 
     
     
         13 . A room temperature regenerable N 2 O purifier according to  claim 12  wherein the ratio between measure of the active portion volume and value of the N 2 O flow is between 0.05 and 2 liter/(m 3 /hour). 
     
     
         14 . A room temperature regenerable N 2 O purifier according to  claims 7  wherein at least 30% of the active portion volume is filled with the purification material. 
     
     
         15 . A room temperature regenerable N 2 O purifier according to  claim 14  wherein at least 60% of the active portion volume is filled with the purification material. 
     
     
         16 . A room temperature regenerable N 2 O purifier according to  claim 15  wherein the active portion volume is substantially completely filled with the purification material. 
     
     
         17 . A room temperature regenerable N 2 O purifier system comprising a gas manifold and its automatic controls and at least two regenerable N 2 O purifiers each of which comprises a vessel having an inlet and outlet, an active portion being at least partially filled with a purification material comprising nickel oxide and optional elemental nickel, wherein the weight ratio between the nickel oxide and the optional elemental nickel is equal or higher than 3 and the surface area of the nickel oxide and the optional elemental nickel is equal or higher than 50 m 2 /g.