Patent ID: 7404846

Claim:
A method for the separation of a gas mixture comprising (a) providing a feed gas mixture containing at least hydrogen and carbon monoxide and optionally containing nitrogen; (b) providing a pressure swing adsorption system having a plurality of adsorber vessels, each vessel having an inlet and an outlet; (c) providing a bed of adsorbent material disposed within each adsorber vessel, wherein the adsorbent material is selective for the adsorption of carbon monoxide and nitrogen; and (d) initiating a feed step that comprises (1) introducing the feed gas mixture into the inlet of the adsorber vessel, passing the feed gas mixture through the bed of adsorbent material wherein at least a portion of the carbon monoxide is adsorbed by the adsorbent material and wherein, if nitrogen is present in the gas mixture, at least a portion of the nitrogen is adsorbed by the adsorbent material; and (2) withdrawing a purified hydrogen product from the outlet of the adsorber vessel; (e) continuing the feed step for a feed time period of about 30 seconds or less; and (f) terminating the feed step; wherein the adsorbent material is characterized by any of (1) a Henry's law constant for carbon monoxide between about 2.5 and about 5.5 (mmole/g)/atm; (2) a carbon monoxide heat of adsorption between about 6.0 and about 7.5 kcal/gmole; and (3) a selectivity of carbon monoxide to nitrogen between about 5.0 and about 8.0.