Patent ID: 6187204
Filing Date: 2001-02-13
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, 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 or circulation phase, wherein liquid present in each loop comprises a separate defined dry solids profile, and said dry solids profile is recycled; said method further comprisingfractionating a feed solution comprising said molasses in said first loop into at least two fractions by a chromatographic simulated moving bed process;fractionating a solution derived from one of said fractions 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; andat least some of said steps in said multi-step sequence occurring sequentially or simultaneously.