Activated carbon treatment

• US 20060261008A1
• Filed: 10/07/2004
• Published: 11/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: DSM IP Assets BV (DSM-Firmenich AG)
• Original Assignee: DSM IP Assets BV (DSM-Firmenich AG)
• Inventors: Wnukowski, Piotr, Jonsson, Alf Thomas Mikael, Tigerfalk, Robert
• Application Number:
  US10/574,854
• Publication Number:
  US 20060261008A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/650
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 15/00 Separating processes involving the treatment of liquids with solid sorbents using liquid sorbents B01D11/00; ion exchange processes or materials, sorbent materials in general B01J, e.g. sorbents for chromatography B01J20/281; for investigating or analysing materials G01N30/00; Apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 15/1807 using counter-currents, e.g. fluidised beds
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 15/1871 placed in series
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/20 comprising free carbon; comprising carbon obtained by carbonising processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/28026 Particles within, immobilised, dispersed, entrapped in or on a matrix, e.g. a resin
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/3416 of sorbents or filter aids comprising free carbon, e.g. activated carbon
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/3475 in the liquid phase
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2220/62 In a cartridge

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process for purification of a compound using an activated carbon treatment. In the process according to the present invention several filter units containing activated carbon immobilized in a matrix are operating in series and in a counter current mode. After passing a suitable volume of feed, a filter unit from the first series of filter units is disconnected at a particular position number, and an additional filter unit is connected at another particular position number herewith obtaining a next series of filter units where over the passing of a next volume of feed is continued. This process overcomes the problem of loss of yield of the purified compound as occurs during conventional activated carbon treatment.

Claims

1. Process for purification of a compound comprising an activated carbon treatment using a filter unit containing activated carbon immobilized in a matrix, the treatment comprising:

a) passing a suitable volume of a feed containing the compound over a first series of n connected filter units operating in series to obtain an effluent, wherein n is at least two, said filter units having been assigned a position number 1 to n in the series and position number 1 being the first supplied with the feed,

b) disconnecting a filter unit from the first series of filter units at any position number between 1 to n−

1 after passing the suitable volume of feed, and connecting a fresh filter unit at any position that has a higher number than the position number of the disconnected filter unit, resulting in a next series of filter units,

c) passing a next suitable volume of feed containing the compound over the next series of filter units to obtain a next effluent,

d) optionally combining the effluents obtained in a and c, and

e) recovering the compound from the effluent.

2. The process according to claim 1, wherein the filter unit is disconnected at position number between 1 to n−

1 and wherein the fresh filter unit is connected at position number n+1.

3. The process according to claim 1, wherein the filter unit is disconnected at position number 1 and wherein the fresh filter unit is connected at position number n+1.

4. The process according to claim 1 wherein the number n of connected filter units operating in series is 2 to 10.

5. The process according to claim 1, wherein the treatment is operated in batch, semi-continuous or continuous mode.

6. The process according to claim 1, wherein the flow rate of the feed is 0.05 to 400 L/min, preferably 20 to 100 L/min, more preferably 30 to 40 L/min.

7. The process according to claim 1 wherein the activated carbon immobilized in a matrix is in the form of a membrane sheet.

8. The process according to claim 7, wherein the flux over the membrane sheet is 1 to 50 L/m2/min., preferably 1.5 to 20 L/m2/min., more preferably 1.5 to 10 L/m2/min.

9. The process according to claim 1, wherein the residence time of the feed containing the compound in a single filter unit is at least 15 seconds and maximal 60 minutes.

10. The process according to claim 1, wherein the process is operated at a temperature between minus °

C. to 40°

C.

11. The process according to claim 1, wherein at least one disconnected filter unit is regenerated in situ by rinsing with a solvent.

12. The process according to claim 1, wherein the compound is an unstable compound.

13. The process according to claim 1, wherein the compound is a secondary metabolite or a protein.

14. The process according to claim 13, wherein the secondary metabolite is selected from the group consisting of an antibiotic, a vitamin, a carotenoid or a PUFA.

15. The process according to claim 1, wherein the compound is obtained by fermentation using a microorganism.

16. The process according to claim 14, wherein the microorganism is a Streptomyces species.

17. The process according to claim 15, wherein the Streptomyces species is selected from the group consisting of S. clavuligerus, S. coelicolor, S. griseus, S. Venezuela, S. jumonjinensis, S. katsurahamanus or S. aureofaciens.

18. The process according to claim 14, wherein the compound is selected from the group consisting of clavulanic acid, streptomycin, chloramphenicol, tetracycline or p3-carotene.

19. The process according to claim 1, further comprising the step of converting the compound into a pharmaceutical acceptable salt or food grade product.