A method for removing oxygen from ammonia at low temperature is described. In
one
embodiment, oxygen contaminated ammonia is contacted with a getter material that
includes iron and manganese that sorbs oxygen to yield ammonia that is substantially
oxygen free. In one embodiment, the process of contacting ammonia with the getter
material takes place at about 25 C. In another embodiment the weight ratio
between iron and manganese is about 7:1. In another embodiment, the getter material
is dispersed on an inert support of specific surface greater than 100 m2/g.
In one embodiment, impure ammonia is contacted with getter material including iron
and manganese that sorbs oxygen and with a drying agent that absorbs water to yield
deoxygenated anhydrous ammonia. In yet another embodiment, an apparatus consisting
of a gas inlet, gas purification chamber and gas outlet that deoxygenates ammonia
when charged with getter material that includes iron and manganese is described.
In one embodiment, getter material and drying agent are mixed together inside the
gas purification chamber. In another aspect a method for producing semiconductor
devices with high purity ammonia is described.