2018 Volume 19 Issue 1 Pages 35-41
A method for calculating the productivity of simulated moving bed (SMB) chromatography based on the optimized repeated cyclic operation (RCO) chromatography was proposed. As a model system, a two-component separation system was chosen, where the distribution coefficients were controlled by changing the mobile phase composition. First, the sample feed volume per bed volume and the mobile phase velocity for the optimized RCO were used for determining the two inlet and the two outlet flow rates and the two zone velocities. The same HETP vs. flow velocity equations were used both for RCO and SMB. By using the parameters determined numerical calculations were carried out for the two different differences in the distribution coefficients. When the difference in the distribution coefficients was large, the productivity value of RCO was higher than that of SMB. The productivity of SMB was slightly higher for a smaller difference in the distribution coefficients.