Adsorbent regeneration and gas separation utilizing microwave heating

Dielectric heating with microwaves of saturated solid noncarbon adsorbents to remove the adsorbed materials results in more rapid, efficient and safe regeneration than conventional heating. The microwaves heat the adsorbents internally and in the absence of spark discharges without thermal and mechanical degradation of the adsorbent, and also in the absence of activating gas bring the adsorbents to a temperature sufficient to desorb the adsorbate. Separation of a gas mixture into two concentrated streams of its components is enabled by adsorption of one fraction by a selective adsorbent followed by removal of that fraction with dielectric heating and little or no purge gas. Useful by-products of the separation process are thereby economically recovered.