Carbon Monoxide Separator from H₂-CO Mixed Gas in Low Temperature Process

Abstract

Carbon monoxide is by-produced in many chemical industries. Though it is not utilized efficiently, recently, some chemical products-butanol, acetic acid and so on have be being synthesized in Reppe process, in which high purity carbon monoxide is requested.
For this purpose, we have constructed the carbon monoxide separating plant, in which H₂-CO mixed gas is cooled down to -200°C at26kg/cm² for condensing carbon monoxide to separate from hydrogen. It is difficult to reach -200°C by using nitrogen refrigeration cycles, so we have designed a new hydrogen expansion engine to get the refrigeration at -200°C.
Hydrogen is separated by condensing carbon monoxide and is utilized for ammonia synthesis at the purity of higher than 97%. Condensed carbon monoxide which include methane is purified by rectification to 98% up, that is pure enough for Reppe process.