Nitrous oxide regenerable room temperature purifier and method
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.
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, the portion being filled with the purification material being a purifier active portion, 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 consists essentially 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 method according to claim 1 wherein the purification material consists of nickel oxide and optional elemental nickel.
8. A purification method according to claim 1 wherein the purification phase is alternate to a regeneration phase where the vessel is heated.
9. A method according to claim 1 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.
10. A method according to claim 9 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).