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A pressure swing adsorption process is used to achieve intermediate product recovery by the introduction of a gas displacement step before, simultaneous with or subsequent to pressure equalization between beds of a multi-bed adsorption system. A cocurrent depressurization step is then employed to ac

A pressure swing adsorption process is used to achieve intermediate product recovery by the introduction of a gas displacement step before, simultaneous with or subsequent to pressure equalization between beds of a multi-bed adsorption system. A cocurrent depressurization step is then employed to achieve intermediate product recovery. A portion of said intermediate product or of the more readily adsorbable component recovered from a bed advantageously being employed to provide displacement gas for another bed in the adsorption system.

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A pressure swing adsorption process for the separation of a feed gas mixture containing a less readily adsorbable component, an intermediately adsorbable component and a more readily adsorbable component, with recovery of said intermediate component as a desired product, in an adsorption system havi

A pressure swing adsorption process for the separation of a feed gas mixture containing a less readily adsorbable component, an intermediately adsorbable component and a more readily adsorbable component, with recovery of said intermediate component as a desired product, in an adsorption system having at least four adsorbent beds, in each of which, on a cyclic basis, undergoes a processing sequence comprising: (a) introducing the feed gas mixture to the feed end of the adsorbent bed at a higher adsorption pressure, with the less readily adsorbent component being discharged from the product end of the bed, and with a leading adsorption front of said intermediate component of said feed gas mixture being established in the bed ahead of a trailing adsorption front of said more readily adsorbable component of said feed gas mixture; (b) introducing to the feed end of the bed a displacement gas essentially free of the less readily adsorbent component, the molar concentration of said intermediate and/or more readily adsorbable components being greater in said displacement gas than in the feed gas mixture, said gas being introduced such that the less readily adsorbable component is essentially completely displaced from the bed prior to initiation of intermediate component recovery; (c) cocurrently depressurizing said bed with discharge of said intermediate component from the product end thereof as a product of desired purity; (d) countercurrently depressurizing and/or purging the bed to remove said more readily adsorbable component therefrom; and (e) repressurizing said bed to the higher adsorption pressure, whereby the intermediately adsorbable component can be recovered as a separate product of desired purity rather than being recovered with the least readily adsorbable component, or with the more readily adsorbable component or as a waste stream with said less and more readily adsorbable components.