Intermittent simulated moving bed chromatography: 3. Separation of Tröger's base enantiomers under nonlinear conditions

One of the modified simulated moving bed (SMB) processes, the intermittent SMB (I-SMB) process, has been recently analyzed theoretically [1] and its superior performance compared to the conventional SMB process has been demonstrated at a rather low total feed concentration through experiments and simulations [2]. This work shows that the I-SMB process outperforms the conventional SMB process also at high feed concentration where the species are clearly subject to a nonlinear adsorption isotherm. In the case of the separation of the Tröger's base's enantiomers in ethanol on ChiralPak AD, the two processes operated in a six-column 1-2-2-1 configuration (one column in sections 1 and 4 and two columns in sections 2 and 3) and in a four-column 1-1-1-1 configuration (one column in each section) are compared at high feed concentration through both experiments and simulations. Even under nonlinear conditions the four column I-SMB process can successfully separate the two enantiomers achieving purity levels as high as the two six column processes and exhibiting better productivity.

► We prove intermittent-SMB multicolumn chromatography under nonlinear conditions.
► The Troger's base's enantiomers have been separated on ChiralPak AD in ethanol.
► The I-SMB process outperforms the conventional SMB even at high feed concentration.
► The 4-column I-SMB process can achieve both high purity and high productivity.