This invention comprises a method for the separation of one component or more from a vapor or gas mixture which involves the step of reacting the component to form a complex or thermally decomposible molecule by reaction with a compound adsorbed or otherwise deposited on a solid carrier. Typical of the gas components that can be so removed, and recovered if desired are carbon dioxide, oxygen, nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, silicon tetrafluoride, hydrogen sulfide, aromatic hydrocarbons, mercaptans, HCN, HF, HCL, BF3 and HBr. Compounds which are adsorbed on the solid carrier for reaction with these various components include various carbonates, such as K, Na, Li, Ca, Cd, Ba; various sulfites, such as K, Na, Li, Cd and Ag; fluorides, glyoximes, ferrous and cupric salts, cuprous amine complexes, dioxane, urea, phosphates, chlorinated aromatics, organic nitriles, benzaldehyde, quinols, etc. The reactive compound is deposited on the solid carrier in a molecular film having a thickness of 1/2 to 5 molecules, which molecular layer has particular effectiveness for the purpose of this invention as described herein. The reaction is conducted at temperatures safely below the temperature at which the respective thermally-decomposible molecule is decomposed, and the original compound is subsequently regenerated and the gas component recovered by heating this product molecule above its decomposition temperature.
