0
Helium is usually produced as a byproduct of natural gas processing. Natural gas contains methane and other hydrocarbons, which are the principal sources of heat energy when natural gas is burned. Most natural gas deposits also contain smaller quantities of nitrogen, water vapor, carbon dioxide, helium, and other non-combustible materials, which lower the potential heat energy of the gas. In order to produce natural gas with an acceptable level of heat energy, these impurities must be removed. This process is called upgrading.
There are several methods used to upgrade natural gas. When the gas contains more than about 0.4% helium by volume, a cryogenic distillation method is often used in order to recover the helium content. Once the helium has been separated from the natural gas, it undergoes further refining to bring it to 99.99+% purity for commercial use.
Here is a typical sequence of operations for extracting and processing helium.
PretreatingBecause this method utilizes an extremely cold cryogenic section as part of the process, all impurities that might solidify-such as water vapor, carbon dioxide, and certain heavy hydrocarbons-must first be removed from the natural gas in a pretreatment process to prevent them from plugging the cryogenic piping.- 1 The natural gas is pressurized to about 800 psi (5.5 MPa or 54 atm). It then flows into a scrubber where it is subjected to a spray of monoethanolamine, which absorbs the carbon dioxide and carries it away.
- 2 The gas stream passes through a molecular sieve, which strips the larger water vapor molecules from the stream while letting the smaller gas molecules pass. The water is back-flushed out of the sieve and removed.
- 3 Any heavy hydrocarbons in the gas stream are collected on the surfaces of a bed of activated carbon as the gas passes through it. Periodically the activated carbon is recharged. The gas stream now contains mostly methane and nitrogen, with small amounts of helium, hydrogen, and neon.
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
What element can be separated into simpler materials?
No element can be separated into simpler materials; the constituent parts of atoms (protons, neutrons, and neutrons) can not constitute stable materials by themselves, but only in combinations with some of the other constituents.
How is helium separated from other matriels that it is found with?
Natural gas is separated into its major components through a distillation process known as fractional distillation. Sometimes this name is shortened to fractionation, and the vertical structures used to perform this separation are called fractionating columns. In the fractional distillation process, the nitrogen and methane are separated in two stages, leaving a mixture of gases containing a high percentage of helium. At each stage the level of concentration, or fraction, of each component is increased until the separation is complete.
How is aluminum separate from other materials found with it?
Primarily by electrolysis of molten bauxite ore.
How is neon separated from other materials found with it?
"Neon can be recovered from large nitrogen plants as well as multi-product air separation units. Krypton and Xenon have higher boiling points than oxygen, from which they can be separated by distillation in air separation plants. When these products are recovered from ammonia plant purge gas, the neon must be separated from hydrogen and nitrogen, and the krypton and xenon from methane. " http://www.uigi.com/rare_gases.html http://environmentalchemistry.com/yogi/periodic/Ne.html This should : It can be prepared by liquification of air and separated from other elements by fractional distillation. Annual world production is around 1 ton. help a little at least. Good luck! ~Starburstia~
How does helium react with other substances?
Helium does not react with other elements. It is a noble gas and has a full outer shell of electrons. Because it is not seeking to gain or lose any of its electrons, it will not react.
What other material is found in helium?
helium is chemically inert and is not found in any materials
How is phosphorus separated from other materials found with it?
it is
How is silver separated from the other materials found with it?
It is separated from YO MAMA
How is barium materials separated from other materials found in it?
hounestly i have no idea
How is gallium separated from other materials found with it?
It has coal
How is lithium separated from other materials found with it?
By ore processes
How is zinc separated from the other materials found with it?
I don't have a clue.
How is neon separated from other materials found in it?
Most often by fractional distillation.
Why does your body need helium?
Your body does not need helium. Helium is an inert gas, and it is not found as a "building block" of any organic material, or any other materials for that matter.
How niobium separated from other materials found with it?
It doesn't interact that fast with other elements
How is argon separated from other materials its found with?
Argon (and the other noble gases) is separated by fractional distillation of liquid air.
How is rutherfordium separated from other materials found with it?
For the first time the products of the nuclear reaction were transformed in chlorides and the rutherfordium tetrachloride was separated by gradient thermochromatography.
