Separation of a binary mixture by sequential centrifugal partition chromatography.

Area of Science:

• Chemical Engineering
• Separation Science
• Chromatography

Background:

• Sequential centrifugal partition chromatography (sCPC) is an advanced continuous cyclic liquid-liquid separation technology.
• Each sCPC cycle involves two distinct steps with alternating mobile phases and flow directions.
• The process allows continuous feed introduction and alternate collection of two product streams.

Purpose of the Study:

• To model sequential centrifugal partition chromatography (sCPC) using a stage (cell) model.
• To simulate the separation of a model binary mixture (pyrocatechol and hydroquinone) using the developed sCPC model.
• To investigate the influence of operating parameters on sCPC performance through experimental and simulation studies.

Main Methods:

• Development and application of a stage (cell) model for sCPC simulation.
• Experimental determination of solute distribution constants, system hydrodynamics, and mass transfer parameters.
• Parameter study involving variation of feed concentration and step times, validated by simulation and experiment.

Main Results:

• The stage model successfully simulated the sCPC separation of pyrocatechol and hydroquinone.
• Experimental data for distribution constants, hydrodynamics, and mass transfer were integrated into the model.
• A parameter study identified optimal operating conditions for the sCPC unit using a novel selection method.

Conclusions:

• The stage model provides a robust framework for simulating and optimizing sCPC processes.
• Experimental validation is crucial for accurate model implementation and prediction of separation performance.
• The study demonstrates the effectiveness of sCPC for continuous binary mixture separation and parameter optimization.