Patent ID: 7618539
Filing Date: 2009-11-17
Classification: B01D

Abstract:
1. A process for separating species in a liquid solution into an extract and a raffinate in a simulated moving bed chromatographic system, said system comprising: a plurality of packed-bed columns serially connected in a circuit, each column having an inlet manifold arranged to direct incoming flow from a plurality of inlet lines to said column and an outlet manifold arranged to direct flow emerging from said column to a plurality of discharge lines, a feed source of said liquid solution, an eluent source, and means for controlling all of said inlet and outlet manifolds to form flow paths communicating each said column with a selected inlet line and with a selected discharge line, and for changing said selected inlet and discharge lines at preselected time intervals, said process comprising: (a) configuring said inlet and outlet manifolds by said valve control means to isolate a first group of said columns from flow communication with a second group of said columns, each group providing continuous flow from one column to the next within a single group and each group having an upstream end and a downstream end collectively defining a direction of fluid flow around said circuit, (b) with said manifolds so configured, performing steps (i) through (v) below simultaneously: (c) after a selected time interval, reconfiguring said inlet and outlet valve manifolds by said means for controlling to advance all introduction and withdrawal sites, and thereby the columns forming said first and second groups, in said direction of flow, (d) repeating steps (b) and (c) until all species in said liquid mixture are divided between said extract and said raffinate.