Optimal operation of simulated moving bed units for nonlinear chromatographic separations

The simulated moving bed (SMB) technology is receiving more and more attention as a convenient technique for the production scale continuous chromatographic separation of fine chemicals. Characteristic features of SMBs are improved performances with respect to preparative chromatography and nonlinear competitive adsorption behavior. The selection of the operating conditions to achieve high separation performances under nonlinear conditions is acknowledged to be the major problem in running a SMB unit for a new application. This problem is solved in this paper, where a general theory is developed which provides explicit criteria for the choice of the operating conditions of SMB units to achieve the prescribed separation of a mixture characterized by both constant selectivity Langmuir isotherms and variable selectivity modified Langmuir isotherms. The space of the operating parameters, i.e. the fluid to solid flow-rate ratios, is divided in regions with different separation regimes. The effect of increasing nonlinearity of the system on the operating conditions and the separation performances, namely desorbent requirement, enrichment, productivity and robustness of the separation, is thoroughly analyzed. The obtained results are shown to provide a very convenient tool to find both optimal and robust operating conditions of SMB units. Finally, a comparison between model predictions and experimental data dealing with the resolution of different racemic mixtures assesses the reliability and accuracy of the obtained theoretical findings.