Method and apparatus for the manufacture of high purity carbon monoxide

1. An apparatus for making gaseous carbon monoxide having a purity of at least one of 99.99%, 99.998% or 99.999% comprising:

a reactor vessel adapted to operate at an elevated temperature to generate a vapor phase comprising gaseous carbon monoxide and water vapor and a liquid phase,

a cooling vessel adapted to condense the vapor phase producing gaseous carbon monoxide and liquid water,

a scrubber adapted to remove impurities from the gaseous carbon monoxide producing the gaseous carbon monoxide having a purity of at least one of 99.99%, 99.998% or 99.99%,

a compressor adapted to pressurize the gaseous carbon monoxide having a purity of at least one of 99.99%, 99.998% or 99.999% wherein the apparatus is at least substantially absent any metallic nickel, metallic iron, nickel-containing alloys, or, iron-containing alloys from contacting any of the liquids or gases; and

one or more of:

(i) a chiller adapted to chill the scrubbed carbon monoxide gas to a temperature in the range of −30° C. to −90° C. to remove impurities;

(ii) a dryer adapted to dry the scrubbed gaseous carbon monoxide to remove impurities; or

(iii) a pressurized cylinder adapted to store the compressed gaseous carbon monoxide having a purity of at least one of 99.99%, 99.998% or 99.999%.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is absent any metallic iron or iron-containing alloys from contacting any of the liquids or gases.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is adapted to operate continuously.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is adapted to operate semi-continuously.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is adapted to operate batch wise.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a controller adapted to control the rate of reaction in the reactor vessel.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises a chiller adapted to chill the scrubbed carbon monoxide gas to a temperature in the range of −30° C. to −90° C. to remove impurities.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the compressor is adapted to pressurize the chilled and scrubbed gaseous carbon monoxide to a pressure in the range of 1000 psig to 2200 psig to remove impurities.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises a dryer adapted to dry the scrubbed gaseous carbon monoxide to remove impurities.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises a pressurized cylinder adapted to store the compressed gaseous carbon monoxide having a purity of at least one of 99.99%, 99.998% or 99.999%.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a contact surface of the reactor vessel is constructed from glass, a suitable copper alloy, a suitable aluminum alloy, titanium or a suitable titanium alloy, brass, a copolymerization product of a tetrafluoroethylene and a perfluoroalkoxy resin, or a combinations thereof.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a contact surface of the cooling vessel is constructed from glass, a suitable copper alloy, a suitable aluminum alloy, titanium or a suitable titanium alloy, brass, a copolymerization product of a tetrafluoroethylene and a perfluoroalkoxy resin, or a combinations thereof.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a contact surface of the scrubber is constructed from glass, a suitable copper alloy, a suitable aluminum alloy, titanium or a suitable titanium alloy, brass, a copolymerization product of a tetrafluoroethylene and a perfluoroalkoxy resin, or a combinations thereof.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a contact surface of the compressor is constructed from glass, a suitable copper alloy, a suitable aluminum alloy, titanium or a suitable titanium alloy, brass, a copolymerization product of a tetrafluoroethylene and a perfluoroalkoxy resin, or a combinations thereof.