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Cryogenic distillation
  • Air is separated through a process known as cryogenic distillation. The process works through various steps to separate elements from the air, one by one, through a series of columns. This process can be applied to many instances where there is a need to remove certain elements or by-products from more complex compounds.
Purification
  • The first step in cryogenic distillation requires taking large volumes of air from the atmosphere. The air is compressed to approximately 94 psi where it is then cooled. As it cools, water vapor is condensed and removed. The air, still under pressure, is then passed through a filter known as a molecular sieve. This will remove compounds such as carbon dioxide and any residual water vapor.
Splitting the Air Stream
  • The now completely pure air is split between two columns. The smaller air column is cooled further by increasing the pressure and then allowing the air to decompress to pressures close to the natural atmosphere. This super chilled air is passed into the cryogenic section and will provide the extremely cold temperatures needed for separation.
Initial Separation
  • The chilled, decompressed air is passed through the main air column in a series of heat exchangers. The main air column is rapidly cooled and oxygen, as it has the highest boiling point, begins to condense to a liquid at the bottom of the tank. The remaining gas, composed of nitrogen and argon, remain above as vapor. The crude oxygen is then filtered out, cooled, and cycled through the same process of cryogenic distillation to further purify it for commercial sale.
Final separation
  • The nitrogen and argon vapors are siphoned out and raised to atmospheric pressure. They are then introduced into a low pressure column. The sudden expansion of pressure causes the temperature of the gases to rapidly drop. The result is a separation of the two as they have different boiling points. The lighter nitrogen will remain completely gaseous at the top of the tank while the argon will collect toward the bottom as vapor. Like the oxygen, the two gases can now be removed and further purified.
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Related Questions

How is air separated on an industrial scale?

Air is separated by the differnet gases going away.


How is air separated into nitrogen and oxygen and carbon dioxide?

Air is separated in components by fractional distillation.


How is air separated from gas?

These gases are separated by condensation and distillation


How do you separate constituents of air?

Air components are separated by fractional distillation.


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 argon is separated from air?

Argon is separated from air by a process called cryogenic distillation. Air is cooled to very low temperatures to liquefy and then slowly heated up. As different components of air have different boiling points, argon is separated from other gases based on its boiling point which is lower than that of nitrogen and oxygen.


What is the word for separating air?

Air components are separated by criogenic distillation.


How do you separate gases the air?

The best process for the separation of components of air is fractional distillation of air. The process includes the liquefaction of air first and then distillation of various fractions on the basis of different boiling points. By using this process, all the components of air can be separated out.


How can a homogeneous mixture be separated?

A homogeneous mixture of gases (air) can be separated by fractional liquefaction. The mixture is gradually cooled, with the gases being separated by differences in boiling point.


What is the word for separation?

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Can dusty air be separated by filtration?

Oh yes, dust can be filtered out of air. It is done all the time.


Who separated nitrogen from air?

The method of obtaining nitrogen from air was developed by Dr Carl von Linde.