Process and device for separation with variable-length chromatographic

• US 6,413,419 B1
• Filed: 09/27/2000
• Issued: 07/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Accord Healthcare Limited (Intas Pharmaceuticals Limited)
• Original Assignee: Institut Francais Du Petrole, Novasep Co.
• Inventors: Nicoud, Roger Marc, Bailly, Michel, Ludemann-Hombourger, Olivier, Adam, Phillippe
• Primary Examiner(s): Therkorn, Ernest G.
• Application Number:
  US09/670,349
• Time in Patent Office: 643 Days
• Field of Search: 210/635, 210/656, 210/659, 210/662, 210/672, 210/198.2
• US Class Current: 210/198.2
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 15/1842 characterized by apparatus features
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2215/023 Simulated moving beds

Abstract

A process for separating at least one component of a mixture in a set of closed-loop chromatographic columns is described, whereby the loop comprises at least one feedstock injection point, a raffinate draw-off point, an eluant injection point, and an extract draw-off point, in which a determination is made between an injection point and a draw-off point or vice-versa a chromatographic zone, and at the end of a given period of time, all of the injection points and draw-off points are shifted by the same number of columns or column sections and advantageously by one column or column section in a given direction that is defined relative to that of the flow of a main fluid that circulates through the loop. During the period, the shifting of different injection points and draw-off points of at least one column or column section is done at different times in such a way that the lengths of the zones that are defined by said different points are variable. The process is useful for the separation particularly of steroisomers for pharmaceuticals.

Claims

1. A non-simulated-moving-bed (non SMB) apparatus for chromatographic separation of at least one component from a mixture, comprising:

a number of chromatographic columns or chromatographic column sections that contain an adsorbent, said columns or column sections being arranged in series and in a loop;

said loop comprising a number of fluid injection lines in each column or column section that are connected to at least one injection pump, and a number of fluid draw-off lines of each column or column section that are connected to at least one draw-off means, each line having at least one valve;

said loop defining at least three chromatographic zones, each chromatographic zone being determined by a fluid injection point and a fluid draw-off point;

said apparatus further comprising means for controlling and varying the length of each zone connected to said valves and for intermittently shifting, by at least a column or column section, the positions of the injection points and draw-off points;

said apparatus being a non-SMB apparatus.

2. A non-SMB apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said loop is closed and said loop further comprises at least one pump for recirculating a fluid or at least one compressor of a subcritical liquid, a supercritical fluid or a compressed gas.

3. A non-SMB apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said loop is open and comprises at least four chromatographic zones, and wherein an eluant injection pump is connected to the outlet of a fourth zone and to the inlet of a first zone to deliver, with makeup eluant, the required flow rate to the inlet of said first zone.

4. A non-SMB apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said draw-off means is a pump or an analog valve that is slaved to a flowmeter or a means for measuring the pressure within the apparatus.

5. A non-SMB apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for controlling the length of said zones provides for the increase in the length of one zone to be compensated by a reduction in the length of an adjacent zone.

6. A non-simulated-moving-bed (non-SMB) apparatus for chromatographic separation of at least one component from a mixture, comprising:

a number of chromatographic columns or chromatographic column sections that contain an adsorbent, said columns or column sections being arranged in series and in a loop;

said loop comprising at least one feedstock injection point, a raffinate draw-off point, an eluant injection point and an extract draw-off point;

said loop defining more than one chromatographic zone, each zone being determined by an injection point and a draw-off point;

wherein said apparatus further comprises means for shifting the injection points and draw off points after a given time period by the same number of columns or column sections; and

wherein said shifting of different injection points and draw off points is performed at different times, so that the lengths of each of said chromatographic zones is variable;

said apparatus being a non-SMB apparatus.

7. A non-SMB apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said means for shifting provides for shifting the position of the extract draw-off point and the position of the raffinate draw-off point by one column or column section after a first time period and thereafter shifting the position of the feedstock injection point and the position of the eluant injection point by one column or column section after a second time period.