Pressure Swing adsorption

Why in news?

• India is importing Pressure swing adsorption plants to produce medical oxygen to get over the oxygen shortage.

How does it work?

• PSA oxygen plants are based on the well-known PSA technology (PSA means pressure swing adsorption).
• PSA Technology enables continuous separation of oxygen from other gases by passing dry compressed air through a vessel where high pressure is built and unwanted gas like Nitrogen (N2) is absorbed by a suitable material (like Zeolite).

Advantages of PSA

• The process of the PSA technology (pressure swing adsorption) is an extremely clean operation and Air is the only ‘raw material’.
• PSA is a cost-efficient process for producing O2.
• The PSA process can be continuously repeated to provide you with an uninterrupted supply of oxygen.
• PSA oxygen generators can produce purities between 92-95% oxygen which can be used for medical uses although not for surgical and ventilator uses.

Prelims Question:

” Pressure Swing adsorption” is a term recently seen in news in the context of:
(a)Medical oxygen production
(b)Submarine Construction
(c)Drinking water purification
(d)None of the above

Answer to Prelims question