Patent ID: 6093326
Filing Date: 2000-07-25
Classification: B01D,C13B

Abstract:
A method for the fractionation of molasses selected from the group consisting of beet molasses, cane molasses, stillage, vinasse wood molasses, wheat molasses, barley molasses, corn molasses, and solutions derived from any of the preceding, comprising the steps of:recovering at least one product during a multi-step sequence in two or more loops, each loop being different than the other loop, and each loop comprising one or more chromatographic beds, columns, or parts thereof separate and distinct from the other loop, said loops comprising at least a first loop and a second loop;a step comprising at least one of the following phases, a feeding phase, an eluting phase and a recycling phase, wherein liquid present in each loop comprises a separate defined dry solids profile, and said dry solids profile is recycled in the recycling phase of the loop; said method further comprisingfeeding a feed solution comprising said molasses into said first loop, fractionating said feed solution comprising said molasses in said first loop into at least two fractions by a chromatographic simulated moving bed process;feeding a liquid comprising at least one of said two fractions from said first loop into said second loop, and fractionating said fraction from said first loop in said second loop by chromatographic fractionation into at least two other fractions; and whereinat least one of said fractions comprises a product fraction said product fraction comprising a greater percentage concentration by weight on a dry solids basis of said product than said molasses, and said product fraction comprising a greater percentage concentration by weight on a dry substance basis of said product than said other fractions in said loops.