Use of two feeds in simulated moving beds for binary separations

Abstract

Simulated moving bed (SMB) and Analog systems with two-feeds are proposed to increase the separation performance. Operation with both total and partial feeds is studied. When the two feeds have different compositions, the proposed SMB system often showed better performance than conventional SMB and Varicol systems and the Analog system with two-feeds typically achieved higher purities compared to the Analog for conventional SMB and Varicol when the number of tanks was increased. Partial-feed operation strategy for SMB and Analog systems with two-feeds often showed significant performance improvement compared to conventional SMB plus partial feed and Varicol plus partial feed. When the two feeds are identical, partial feed operation of the two-feed SMB becomes identical to partial feed operation of Varicol.