Two-column simulated moving-bed process for binary separation

A two-column simulated moving-bed system has been developed for binary separation. The system combines a flexible node design, robust pump configuration, and cyclic flow-rate modulation to exploit the benefits of simulated counter-current operation. The feasibility of the proposed two-column system is demonstrated on the linear separation of two nucleosides by reversed phase. Emphasis is given to the potentialities of the process compared to single-column batch chromatography with recycling for the same amount of stationary phase. The performance of the proposed two-column process is verified with laboratory-scale experiments and detailed simulations for different difficulties in separation and desorbent-to-feed ratios.