Membrane process and system for nitrogen production

On-site membrane systems are used for air separation to produce a low purity nitrogen stream and for purifying impure hydrogen, the nitrogen and hydrogen being passed to a catalytic combustion system in which the oxygen content of the nitrogen stream is reacted with said hydrogen to reduce the residual oxygen content of the nitrogen in a final purification operation to produce high purity nitrogen. Pressure swing adsorption systems can be employed in place of the membrane systems for particular applications, and a cryogenic system can be employed for said hydrogen purification.