New Multicomponent SMB/Chromatographic Separations

该项目正在开发一些改进的模拟移动床(SMB)系统，用于二元和三元分离问题。对3区和4区SMB系统的抽余流和萃取流进行了选择性部分提取(仅在周期的一部分中去除产品)和双重产品提取(对同一产品使用两条生产线)的分析。详细的计算机模拟被用来优化流量。在研究过程中，正在设计其他一些新的中小企业级联。这些新型级联的设计目的是在使用更少或相同数量的解吸剂的同时，实现更好的分离。这项研究使用详细的模拟来描述二元分离问题，在获得相同产品纯度的情况下，新的SMB级联比标准的四区SMB具有更低的解吸剂使用量和/或更高的生产率。最有希望的候选者被挑选出来进行实验确认。由于三元SMB分离变得越来越重要，特别是在制药行业，也在研究一些新的三元SMB级联，以实现三元体系的完全分离，以及从三元进料中只需要一种产品的情况。还将分析第四代馈送的中小企业级联。吸附模拟器正在被引入研究生级别的化学工程课程。模拟移动床(SMB)吸附系统已被证明是进行大规模层析进行二元分离的最经济有效的方法，并已被商业化用于许多分离，如对二甲苯提纯、果糖和葡萄糖的分离，以及最近的光学异构体分离。SMB系统被认为是昂贵的分离技术，成本主要由解吸剂的使用和生产率决定。如果成功，这项研究将最终证明，与目前的四区SMB技术相比，解吸剂的使用量和生产率可以显著提高。正在开发的用于二元分离的新级联将在不增加解吸剂使用量的情况下显著提高生产率，而正在开发的用于三元分离的新级联将显著提高生产率并减少解吸剂使用量。这些新设计将对用于工业分离的中小型企业系统的设计产生重大影响，从而影响产品成本。

This project is developing a number of improved simulated moving-bed (SMB) systems for both binary and ternary separation problems. Selective partial withdrawal (removal of product during only part of the cycle) and dual product withdrawal (use of two product lines for the same product) are analyzed for both the raffinate and extract streams for 3 and 4-zone SMB systems. Detailed computer simulations are used to optimize flow rates. A number of additional new SMB cascades are being devised in the course of the research. These new cascades are designed to result in better separations while using less or the same amount of desorbent. This research uses detailed simulations to delineate binary separation problems for which the new SMB cascades have lower desorbent use and/or higher productivity than a standard 4-zone SMB while obtaining the same product purities. The most promising candidates are selected for experimental confirmation. Since ternary SMB separations are becoming increasingly important, particularly in the pharmaceutical industry, a number of new ternary SMB cascades are also being examined for both complete separation of the ternary system and for the case where only one product is desired from the ternary feed. SMB cascades for quaternary feeds will also be analyzed. Adsorption simulators are being introduced into graduate-level chemical-engineering courses. Simulated Moving Bed (SMB) adsorption systems have proven to be the most cost effective method for doing large-scale chromatography for binary separations and have been commercialized for a number of separations such as p-xylene purification, separation of fructose and glucose, and, most recently, optical isomer separations. SMB systems are considered to be expensive separation techniques, with costs dominated by desorbent use and productivity. If successful, this research will conclusively prove that desorbent use and productivity can be significantly improved compared to current 4-zone SMB technology. The new cascades being developed for binary separations will significantly increase the productivity without increasing desorbent use, while the new cascades being developed for ternary separations will significantly increase the productivity and decrease desorbent use. These new designs will have a significant impact on the design of SMB systems for industrial separations and hence on product cost.