A process for the separation /
recovery of gases is described where the desired component to be separated from the gaseous mixture is present in low / very low
molar amount and / or low / moderate pressure, the process comprising contacting the gaseous mixture with a separation membrane unit containing high permeability / medium selectivity membranes which separate the feed
stream into a permeate
stream, enriched in the desired component and at a lower pressure and a retentate
stream lean in the desired component and at a higher pressure. The retentate stream is made to convey its pressure to the permeate stream which then is directed to an adsorption PSA unit for further purification of the permeate stream so that the
effluent stream from the PSA unit which contains the purified component has a purity of up to 99.90%. The process is useful for separating
hydrogen from
refinery off gases such as FCC gases and can also be applied to other gases such as
helium and any other valuable gases present in gaseous streams in low to very low
molar contents and low to moderate pressures.