Simplistic determination of operation parameters for simulated moving bed (SMB) chromatography for the separation of ketoprofen enantiomer

Abstract

Since it is troublesome to estimate adequate flow rates in four sections of SMB chromatography, a systematic determination of the flow rates has been suggested by using ketoprofen as a model chiral enantiomer.S-ketoprofen, less retained species, was separated from raffinate stream and the variation in its purity was dependent on the changes of the flow rate of section 4 (Q4), the raffinate flow rate (Qraf), and the feed flow rate (Qfeed) under a fixed switching timet*. When one parameter was changed at the given experimental condition, purities of product were changed and these phenomena has be well explained by the triangle theory.