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Hydrogen Purification (PSA)
Gas Treatment & Drying

Hydrogen Purification (PSA)

High purity hydrogen recovery from steam methane reformer off gas, chlor alkali by product gas, or electrolyser product using a layered adsorbent bed pressure swing adsorption cycle.

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The Challenge
Refinery and chemical operators face high hydrogen demand and high hydrogen prices; raw hydrogen streams from SMR, chlor alkali, or electrolyser carry CO, CO₂, CH₄, N₂, and water that must be removed before the hydrogen is used in hydrotreating, hydrocracking, fuel cell, or mobility applications.
Quick Answer

Hydrogen PSA purification uses a layered adsorbent bed (activated carbon, 13X molecular sieve, CMS polishing) in a multi vessel pressure swing adsorption cycle to recover hydrogen at 99.9 to 99.999 percent purity from impurity laden feed gas. Recovery efficiency reaches 80 to 90 percent with pressure equalisation steps.

Hydrogen Purification (PSA)

The Hydrogen Purity and Recovery Trade

Hydrogen is consumed in vast quantities across refining (hydrotreating, hydrocracking), petrochemicals (ammonia, methanol synthesis), and increasingly in mobility (fuel cell vehicles, hydrogen refuelling stations). The raw hydrogen sources, steam methane reformer (SMR) off gas, chlor alkali by product, naphtha reforming off gas, and now green hydrogen from PEM and alkaline electrolysers, all carry impurities that must be removed before use. The SorbiTech hydrogen PSA train recovers high purity hydrogen at the operator contracted specification, with recovery efficiency that determines the project economics.

Layered Adsorbent Bed Architecture

The layered bed is the deciding feature. Activated carbon at the inlet captures carbon dioxide and heavier hydrocarbons; 13X molecular sieve in the middle layer holds carbon monoxide and residual water; a polishing layer of carbon molecular sieve captures the trace methane and nitrogen. The combined train delivers hydrogen at ISO 14687 Grade D fuel cell specification: CO below 0.2 ppm, total sulphur below 0.004 ppm.

Hydrogen Purification (PSA) process equipment

Pressure Equalisation Lifts Recovery

A four to twelve vessel PSA train running with pressure equalisation recovers 80 to 90 percent of the hydrogen contained in the feed. Without equalisation a simple two vessel PSA recovers only 60 to 70 percent. SorbiTech matches the vessel count to the operator hydrogen value and the available footprint; higher hydrogen value justifies more vessels and the corresponding recovery uplift.

Delivery as a Turnkey Package

SorbiTech delivers the duty as a turnkey hydrogen PSA purification package engineered by SorbiTech, with the layered adsorbent charge and the civil and electrical execution. Sector coverage is petrochemicals and refining and industrial gas.

Selection Guidance

Use activated carbon at the inlet for CO₂ and heavy hydrocarbons, 13X middle layer for CO and residual water, carbon molecular sieve polishing layer for trace methane and nitrogen. Match the vessel count to the contracted recovery efficiency.

How SorbiTech Solves It

A Specified, Verified Solution

Define the duty

We capture your process conditions: flow, composition, pressure, temperature, and the target outlet specification.

Select media & configuration

Our engineers recommend the adsorbent grade and system type that meet the duty with margin.

Size & engineer

Bed sizing, vessel design, and cycle parameters are engineered to your case and documented for approval.

Commission & verify

We support loading, start up, and performance verification against the guarantee.

Recommended Products & Systems

Media

Adsorbents & Media

  1. 01 Molecular Sieve 13x Adsorbent Molecular Sieve 13X Sodium form 13X zeolite for cryogenic air pre purification and combined drying and sweetening. Pore Ø 10 Å
  2. 02 CMS 450hp Adsorbent Carbon Molecular Sieve CMS 450HP Ultra high purity carbon molecular sieve. 99.99999 percent (7N) N2, selective O2 and CO2 capture, 1.0 to 1.6 mm pellets, minimal fines, deoxo polishing… Water Cap. Feed must reach ISO 8573 class 1.4.1, deoxo polishing recommended for 7N %
  3. 03 CMS 420kt Adsorbent Carbon Molecular Sieve CMS 420KT High efficiency carbon molecular sieve. Higher oxygen affinity under 7 to 12 barg, 1.2 to 1.8 mm pellets, Snowstorm Filling compatible, ASTM D4058 attrition… Water Cap. Feed must reach ISO 8573 class 1.4.1 %
  4. 04 CMS 350kt Adsorbent Carbon Molecular Sieve CMS 350KT Rapid adsorption carbon molecular sieve. 40 to 90 second cycle at 7 to 10 barg, up to 99.99 percent N2, 1.0 to 2.2 mm… Water Cap. Moisture at supply below 1.0 percent, feed must reach ISO 8573 class 1.4.1 %
  5. 05 CMS 260l Adsorbent Carbon Molecular Sieve CMS 260L Affordable carbon molecular sieve. 1.2 to 1.8 mm pellets, sub 10 Angstrom pore, 95 to 99.9 percent N2 from compressed air at 7 to… Water Cap. Intolerant of liquid water, feed must reach ISO 8573 class 1.4.1 %
  6. 06 Activated Alumina Aa 201 Adsorbent Activated Alumina Impregnated Promoter loaded activated alumina for hydrogen sulphide, chloride, and Claus tail gas guard duty. Form 3–5 mm spheres · 1.6–3.2 mm spheres
Equipment

Engineered Systems

  1. 01 SorbiTech Hydrogen PSA Purification Package Refinery H2 Recovery Multi Bed PSA Equipment Hydrogen PSA Purification Package On site hydrogen PSA package using a layered adsorbent bed for high purity hydrogen recovery from steam methane reformer off gas or electrolyser product. Capacity 50–50,000 Nm³/h H₂
  2. 02 SorbiTech Transformer Breather Cartridge System Silica Gel Grid Utility Breather Equipment Transformer Breather Cartridge System Pre packaged stainless steel transformer breather cartridge with indicating silica gel for grid transformer moisture protection across the high voltage transmission and distribution network. Capacity 0.5–25 kVA transformer to 800 kV substation
  3. 03 SorbiTech Cryogenic ASU Pre Purification Package ASU Front End 13x Alumina TSA Towers Equipment Cryogenic ASU Pre Purification Package Front end TSA pre purification package for cryogenic air separation units removing water, carbon dioxide, and trace hydrocarbons before the cold box. Capacity 5,000–500,000 Nm³/h air
  4. 04 SorbiTech Biogas Upgrading Unit Biomethane PSA Carbon Molecular Sieve Equipment Biogas Upgrading Unit PSA biogas upgrading unit using carbon molecular sieve to separate carbon dioxide from methane and deliver grid quality bio methane from anaerobic digester biogas… Capacity 50–2,000 Nm³/h raw biogas
  5. 05 SorbiTech Oxygen Vpsa Package Industrial Oxygen Vpsa Steel Mill Blast Furnace Equipment Oxygen VPSA Package On site vacuum pressure swing adsorption (VPSA) oxygen generation package delivering 90 to 95 percent oxygen for medical, aquaculture, ozone generation, and metals applications. Capacity 50–2,500 Nm³/h O₂ (90–95 % purity)
  6. 06 SorbiTech Heatless Desiccant Air Dryer Compressed Air ISO 8573 Twin Tower Dryer Equipment Heatless Desiccant Air Dryer Twin tower heatless desiccant compressed air dryer using activated alumina or silica gel for instrument and process air to pressure dew points below minus… Capacity 50–10,000 Nm³/h
Industries

Industries Using This Application

  1. 01 SorbiTech Industrial Gas Air Separation ASU Cryogenic Distillation Cold Box Sector Industrial Gas & Air Separation Molecular sieves and carbon molecular sieve plus PSA/TSA systems for nitrogen and oxygen generation and cryogenic air separation pre purification.
  2. 02 SorbiTech Petrochemicals Refining Integrated Cracker Complex Distillation Columns Sector Petrochemicals & Refining Adsorbents and separation systems for feedstock drying, process gas conditioning, solvent recovery, and refinery effluent treatment.

Specify a Solution for This Application

Provide your process conditions and our team will recommend the grade, configuration, and sizing.

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