Simulated Moving Bed Technology for the Industrial Small and Mid Scale Separation of Racemates

Over the last decade in the fine chemical and pharmaceutical industry, simulated moving bed technology has become an import chromatographic method for the separation of racemates. In this report we describe the SMB principle along with its application for the small and mid scale separation of binary mixtures. A practical approach to method development is presented with highlights on the factors that are critical for the design of a robust separation process and its expected productivity. An example of process optimization is also given in regard to the separation of racemic Z-?-homo-alanine.