Future Directions in SMB Multicomponent Separations and SMBR

The pseudo-simulated moving bed process - the JO process of Japan Organo Co. [28, 29] - has been successfully applied to the separation of a ternary mixture. The process cycle is divided into two steps (Fig. 3.4-14). In step 1, feed and eluent streams are introduced into the system, equivalent to a series of preparative chromatographic columns, and the intermediate component is produced. In step 2, similar to an SMB, there is no feed and the less-adsorbed species is collected in the raffinate while the more-retained species is collected in the extract [30]. 

The SMBR where reaction of type A B -i- C (sucrose inversion) was studied in our laboratory [32]. The sucrose is introduced in the middle of the unit with the feed stream. The reaction is catalyzed by the enzyme invertase introduced in the unit with the eluent stream. The sucrose reacts near to the feed port fructose and glucose are formed and separated in the extract and raffinate, respectively. Typical concentration profiles are shown in Fig. 3.4-15. 

A more interesting example of SMBR is its appHcation for the synthesis of die-thylacetal from ethanol and acetaldehyde, with separation of the products acetal 

Afeyan, S. Fulton, N. Gordon, I. Mazsa-roff, L. Varady, F. Regnier, Biotechnd, 

Nicoud, Recent Advances in Industrial Chromatographic Processes, R.-M. Nicoud, ecL, NOVASEP, Nancy, France, 1997, 4-5. 

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