Adsorption composition and method of removing co from streams

Abstract

Carbon monoxide is removed from streams by adsorption on an adsorption composition which comprises copper and zirconium oxides but no zinc oxide, which comprises from 70 to 99.8% by weight of copper oxide and from 0.2 to 30% by weight of zirconium oxide, based on the total amount of the adsorption composition.

1 . An adsorption composition comprising copper and zirconium oxides but no zinc oxide, which comprises from 30 to 99.8% by weight of copper oxide and from 0.2 to 70% by weight of zirconium oxide, based on the total amount of the adsorption composition. 
     
     
         2 . The adsorption composition according to  claim 1  which consists essentially of from 30 to 99.8% by weight of copper oxide and from 0.2 to 70% by weight of zirconium oxide. 
     
     
         3 . The adsorption composition according to  claim 2  which consists of from 30 to 99.8% by weight of copper oxide and from 0.2 to 70% by weight of zirconium oxide. 
     
     
         4 . The adsorption composition according to  claim 1  on an inert support. 
     
     
         5 . The adsorption composition according to  claim 1 , wherein zirconium is present in the form of zirconium dioxide. 
     
     
         6 .- 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . A method of removing carbon monoxide from streams comprising carbon monoxide and oxygen by catalytic reaction of carbon monoxide with oxygen to form carbon dioxide, wherein the adsorption composition defined in  claim 1  is used as catalyst. 
     
     
         9 . A method of removing carbon monoxide from streams comprising carbon monoxide by reaction of carbon monoxide with a solid comprising copper(I) oxide and/or copper(II) oxide to form carbon dioxide and metallic copper, wherein the adsorption composition defined in  claim 1  is used as solid comprising copper(I) oxide and/or copper(II) oxide. 
     
     
         10 . A process for producing the adsorption composition defined in  claim 1 , which comprises the following process steps in the indicated order:
 a) preparation of a solution of the components of the adsorption composition and/or of soluble starting compounds thereof;   b) precipitation of a solid from this solution by addition of a base;   c) isolation and drying of the solid;   d) if desired calcination of the solid;   e) shaping of the solid to give shaped bodies; and   f) if desired calcination of the shaped bodies;   with the proviso that at least one of the two calcination steps d) or f) is carried out.   
     
     
         11 . A process for producing the adsorption composition defined in  claim 5 , which comprises the following process steps in the indicated order:
 a) preparation of a solution of the components of the adsorption composition and/or of soluble starting compounds thereof;   b) impregnation of a preformed inert support with the solution;   c) drying of the impregnated support; and   d) calcination of the impregnated and dried support.   
     
     
         12 . A method of regenerating the adsorption composition defined in  claim 1  after it has been used for the adsorptive removal of carbon monoxide from streams comprising carbon monoxide, wherein the adsorption composition is heated to a temperature in the range from 50 to 500° C. and/or a gas is passed through a bed of the adsorption composition to be regenerated. 
     
     
         13 . The adsorption composition according to  claim 2  on an inert support. 
     
     
         14 . The adsorption composition according to  claim 3  on an inert support. 
     
     
         15 . The adsorption composition according to  claim 2 , wherein zirconium is present in the form of zirconium dioxide. 
     
     
         16 . The adsorption composition according to  claim 3 , wherein zirconium is present in the form of zirconium dioxide. 
     
     
         17 . The adsorption composition according to  claim 4 , wherein zirconium is present in the form of zirconium dioxide.