Products / Argon

Argon recovery systems

Argon is recovered as a side stream of a cryogenic air separation plant. Its boiling point (−185.9 °C) lies between nitrogen and oxygen, so argon concentrates in the lower part of the upper distillation column; a crude argon column and a pure argon column then refine it to ≥99.999%. We supply argon recovery as part of a new ASU or as an addition to an existing plant.

≥ 99.999%

Pure argon purity (5N)

8 – 10% Ar

Argon-rich fraction drawn from the column

≈ 96% Ar

Typical crude argon composition

−185.9 °C

Argon boiling point

Economics

Why argon costs so little when it comes with oxygen

Argon is about 0.93% of atmospheric air and its market price is many times that of oxygen or nitrogen because it is difficult to separate. In a plant that already produces oxygen, refrigeration, purification and compression are shared, so the incremental cost of argon recovery is a fraction of a dedicated plant. Recovery becomes attractive from roughly 3,000 Nm³/h of oxygen production, or where the site has a captive argon demand.

Process

Process description

Argon-rich draw from the rectifying section of the upper column

Crude argon column removing the bulk of the oxygen

De-oxidation, drying and purification of the crude argon stream

Pure argon column producing ≥99.999% argon

Integration with a new ASU or retrofit into an existing plant

START WITH YOUR PROCESS

Recover more argon from the oxygen you already make.

Tell us the oxygen capacity of your plant or project — we will assess whether argon recovery is worth it and how much it would produce.