Patent ID: 8017017

Claim:
A method for producing a target substance by separating the target substance from a material, using a simulated moving bed chromatography separation system comprising an endless flow passage, the endless flow passage comprising: a plurality of columns filled with a particulate separating agent for separating the target substance; a plurality of connecting flow passages connecting the plurality of columns in series in the endless shape; and a pump supplying an eluant to the columns, wherein the material, from which the target substance in the material is separable by using a first simulated moving bed chromatography separation system satisfying a first condition, is used in a second simulated moving bed chromatography separation system satisfying a second condition, thereby the target substance is produced by separating the target substance from the material, the first condition is that a particle size of the separating agent is r 1 (μm), provided that r 1 ≦25, columns in which a total fill length of column tubes is L 1 are used, and a total number of theoretical plates of the columns in the first simulated moving bed chromatography separation system is N 1 , the second condition is that a particle size of the separating agent is r 2 (μm), provided that r 2 >25, columns in which a total fill length of column tubes is L 2 , provided that L 1 <L 2 , are used, and a total number of theoretical plates of the columns is N 2 , provided that 0.5N 1 ≦N 2 ≦1.5N 1 , and when: Vd 1 represents a capacity of a liquid accumulation portion formed in an endless flow passage of the first simulated moving bed chromatography separation system; Vc 1 represents a total inner capacity of columns in the first simulated moving bed chromatography separation system; Vd 2 represents a capacity of a liquid accumulation portion formed in an endless flow passage of the second simulated moving bed chromatography separation system; and Vc 2 represents a total inner capacity of columns in the second simulated moving bed chromatography separation system, a ratio of Vd 2 with respect to a sum of Vc 2 and Vd 2 is 0.07 or less and is smaller than a ratio of Vd 1 with respect to a sum of Vc 1 and Vd 1 .