Simulated moving bed chromatography (SMBC) Is a separation technique that is used in the pharmaceutical industry, in the production of fine chemicals, bio engineering and in the hemp and cannabis industry.
SMB is a time and money saving technique. SMB is a method in process chromatography that enables substance mixtures to be continuously separated and extracted in two fractions. SMB has significantly higher efficiency than batch chromatography and better utilization of the column stationary phase.
The SMB process is used for two component mixtures. Even though in principle SMB is limited to two fraction separations, each partial fraction can be further fraction by repeated use of the SMB process.
Work faster, save space, more productive and purer than with comparable batch systems, plus we have a smaller SMB system.
Reduce your costs – save up to 90% of the solvent and reduce the solid phase costs up to 80%.
SMB enables the separation of binary mixtures by means of a simulated countercurrent between the solid and liquid phases. This is done by arranging a series of chromatography columns in a ring. An eluent flow circulates through the ring. Two inlets and two outlets define four separation zones. Two inlets are for feed and eluent and the other two for extract/ red and raffinate/ blue. As you continuously feed sample and synchronously switch the columns against the eluent flow direction, a countercurrent is achieved between the solid and liquid phases. This leads to high purity of both target fractions.
On the SMB, the movement of the solid phase is seen by simultaneous switching with Seven multi-position valves or one central multi-position valve. The bulk of the eluent is continuously circulated in the system. Only a small amount of eluent is removed in the extract and raffinate, this saves up to 90% of the eluent compared to batch process. Because of the simulated countercurrent, the stationary phase is far better utilized with SMB vs. batch process technique.
In addition to traditional SMB using HPLC columns, we offer the only industrial CPC (countercurrent partition chromatography) that can be operated in a continuous mode by using the SMB process.
CPC is easily compared to SMB used in HPLC for continuous injection.
Process HPCPC (high pressure countercurrent partition chromatography) starts at 12 liters and goes to 100’s of liters. Our process HPCPC for simulated moving bed uses a standard solvent for Ionic liquid solvent or liquid CO2 for chromatography or efficient extraction.
Benefits of combining CPC with SMB:
Radically reduce solvent costs
No solid phase costs
Can purify more material faster and continuously than with any other technique on the same scale.
The combination of industrial scale CPC and SMB is only offered by Icon scientific
ICON Scientific, Inc
