There are various techniques used to separate oxygen from the air. One of the prime techniques used in most of the industries is the pressure swing adsorption or PSA.

Pressure swing adsorption is an effective method of oxygen separation that produces good quality gas better and cleaner. In this article, we will understand the PSA process used in oxygen generators and the role of molecular sieves in it.

PSA oxygen generators

Raw air is a mixture of multiple gases. A lot of medical and industrial procedures require a pure form of oxygen gases. This can be done by separating oxygen from the ambient air which contains 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 0.9% argon and 0.1% rare gases. PSA procedure used in oxygen generators uses molecular sieve desiccants for the oxygen separation.

PSA is a technique that works under the principle that as the pressure increases, more gas tends to get adsorbed to the surface. As the pressure is reduced, the gas releases. This principle is used to separate gases from a mixture.