Patent ID: 6652755
Filing Date: 2003-11-25
Classification: B01D

Abstract:
A method for washing packed beds included in a simulated moving bed separation system, comprising:forming a circulation flow circuit comprising a plurality of said packed beds which are connected in series to each other and have introducing and discharging ends thereof connected to each other via a looped fluid passage to circulate fluid in a unidirectional direction, each packed bed in the system being provided with a port for introducing a desorbing liquid, a port for drawing out a solution containing an extract, a port for introducing a feedstock fluid and a port for drawing out a solution containing a raffinate, wherein each of said desorbing liquid introducing port, extract draw-out port, feedstock introducing port and raffinate draw-out port are provided with an on-off valve; injecting a washing liquid into said packed bed through said introducing ends; discharging said washing liquid from said packed bed through said discharging ends; monitoring a first concentration of said raffinate and/or a second concentration of said extract included in said washing liquid discharged from said packed beds; and automatically terminating the washing when said first concentration is less than a first predetermined value and/or said second concentration is less than a second predetermined value.