Patent ID: 7591985

Claim:
A method of purifying germanium hydrides from crude hydride gas ( 10 ), said method comprising the sequential steps of: a) providing a crude hydride gas feed ( 10 ) having impurities, wherein said impurities comprise water, carbon dioxide and quantities of air constituents; b) forming a partially purified hydride gas ( 22 ) having a lower concentration of water and carbon dioxide by contacting said crude hydride gas feed ( 10 ) with a cold aqueous caustic solution ( 18 ), thereby partially removing impurities; c) chilling said partially purified hydride gas ( 22 ) below about −2° C. through direct-contact with hydrogen gas refrigerant at about −50° C. to about −150° C. to produce a dispersion ( 26 ) of liquid droplets and ice particles in a hydride gas continuous phase, said liquid droplets providing an interfacial area for further dissolution of carbon dioxide from the gas phase; d) separating the liquid and ice particles from the hydride gas across a coalescing and filtration medium ( 32 ), withdrawing therefrom a cooled and partially purified hydride gas ( 34 ); and e) forming a dry hydride gas ( 42 ) comprising hydrogen and germanium hydrides by passing said cooled and partially purified hydride gas ( 34 ) through a molecular zeolitic sieve ( 40 ).