SMB process

摘要

The present invention provides a chromatographic separation process for recovering a polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) product from a feed mixture, which process comprises the steps of: (i) purifying the feed mixture in a first separation step in a simulated or actual moving bed chromatography apparatus having a plurality of linked chromatography columns containing, as eluent, an aqueous organic solvent, to obtain an intermediate product; and (ii) purifying the intermediate product obtained in (i) in a second separation step using a simulated or actual moving bed chromatography apparatus having a plurality of linked chromatography columns containing, as eluent, an aqueous organic solvent, to obtain the PUFA product; wherein (a) the first and second separation steps are carried out sequentially on the same chromatography apparatus, the intermediate product being recovered between the first and second separation steps and the process conditions in the chromatography apparatus being adjusted between the first and second separation steps such that the PUFA product is separated from different components of the feed mixture in each separation step; or (b) the first and second separation steps are carried out on separate first and second chromatography apparatuses respectively, the intermediate product obtained from the first separation step being introduced into the second chromatography apparatus, and the PUFA product being separated from different components of the feed mixture in each separation step.

主权项

1. A chromatographic separation process for recovering a polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) product from a feed mixture, which process comprises the steps of:
(i) purifying the feed mixture in a first separation step in a simulated or actual moving bed chromatography apparatus having a plurality of linked chromatography columns containing, as eluent, an aqueous organic solvent, to obtain an intermediate product; and (ii) purifying the intermediate product obtained in (i) in a second separation step using a simulated or actual moving bed chromatography apparatus having a plurality of linked chromatography columns containing, as eluent, an aqueous organic solvent, to obtain the PUFA product; wherein (a) the first and second separation steps are carried out sequentially on the same chromatography apparatus, the intermediate product being recovered between the first and second separation steps and the process conditions in the chromatography apparatus being adjusted between the first and second separation steps such that the PUFA product is separated from different components of the feed mixture in each separation step; or (b) the first and second separation steps are carried out on separate first and second chromatography apparatuses respectively, the intermediate product obtained from the first separation step being introduced into the second chromatography apparatus, and the PUFA product being separated from different components of the feed mixture in each separation step; and wherein (1) part of an extract stream from the apparatus used in the first separation step is recycled back into the apparatus used in the first separation step; and/or (2) part of a raffinate stream from the apparatus used in the first separation step is recycled back into the apparatus used in the first separation step; and/or (3) part of an extract stream from the apparatus used in the second separation step is recycled back into the apparatus used in the second separation step; and/or (4) part of a raffinate stream from the apparatus used in the second separation step is recycled back into the apparatus used in the second separation step, and wherein (I) a rate at which liquid collected via one or both of the extract and raffinate streams in the first separation step is recycled back into the apparatus used in that separation step is adjusted such that the PUFA product can be separated from different components of the feed mixture in each separation step; and/or (II) a rate at which liquid collected via one or both of the extract and raffinate streams in the second separation step is recycled back into the apparatus used in that separation step is adjusted such that the PUFA product can be separated from different components of the feed mixture in each separation step.