Patent ID: 7001526
Filing Date: 2006-02-21
Classification: B01D

Abstract:
1. A method of physical separation of optical isomers from a saturated racemate solution comprising the steps of a) first allotting the racemate solution into samples with minute quantities of the racemate resulting in one isomer in measurable excess of the other using statistical means, and b) detecting the samples with a predetermined excess by means of a spectrophotometer that measures the different responses to the left and right circularly polarized light, c) collecting the samples, one with predetermined left handed excess, another with predetermined right handed excess and the rest, in three different receptacles, d) crystallizing the two samples that have excesses larger than the predetermined excess amount of left or right-handed isomers to obtain the left or the right isomers by lowering the temperature if necessary, e) allowing natural crystallization of the third portion of the samples to occur, f) inducing crystallization of the third sample to occur by known means, g) removing the crystals from the mother liquor and h) then recirculating the remaining portion for further separation and crystallization as described previously from a) to g).