Separation of epigallocatechin gallate from tea polyphenol by simulated moving bed chromatography

► EGCG was purified from tea polyphenol efficiently by a two-step SMB process. ► An open-loop 3-zone SMB unit with a solvent gradient in zones I and II was used. ► Re-generation and pre-equilibration were performed in zones I and III respectively. ► Chromatographic behavior of EGCG was described by ideal linear chromatographic model. ► SMB operating parameters were selected according to the triangle theory.