Process for separating optical isomers

Abstract

A process for separating optical isomers in a simulated moving bed system, which comprises introducing a solution containing an optical isomer mixture and a desorbing liquid into a packed bed containing an optical resolution packing therein and having front and rear ends thereof connected to each other endlessly via a fluid passage to circulate a fluid unidirectionally and at the same time drawing out a solution containing one of the separated isomers and another solution containing the other isomer from the packed bed, wherein a port 13 for introducing a desorbing liquid, a port 14 for drawing out a solution containing a strongly adsorbable optical isomer, i.e. an extract, a port 15 for introducing a solution containing a mixture of optical isomers, and a port 16 for drawing out a solution containing a weakly adsorbable optical isomer, i.e. a raffinate, are arranged in the packed bed in this order along the direction of fluid flow and the positions of these ports are successively moved in the direction of fluid flow in the packed bed intermittently.

We claim: 
     
       1. A process for separating optical isomers in a simulated moving bed system, comprising introducing a solution containing an optical isomer mixture and a desorbing liquid into a packed bed containing an optical resolution packing therein and having front and rear ends thereof connected to each other endlessly via a recycle fluid passage to circulate a fluid unidirectionally and at the same time drawing out a solution containing one of the separated isomers and another solution containing the other isomer from the packed bed, wherein a port for introducing a desorbing liquid, an extract port for drawing out a solution containing a strongly adsorbable optical isomer a port for introducing a solution containing an optical isomer mixture, and a raffinate port for drawing out a solution containing a weakly adsorbable optical isomer are arranged in the packed bed in this order along the direction of fluid flow and the positions of these ports are successively moved in the direction of fluid flow in the packed bed intermittently. .Iadd. 
     
     
       2.  A process for separating optical isomers in a simulated moving bed system comprising the steps of introducing a solution containing an optical isomer mixture and a desorbing liquid into a packed bed containing an optical resolution packing therein and having front and rear ends thereof connected to each other endlessly via a recycle fluid passage to circulate a fluid unidirectionally and at the same time drawing out a solution containing one of the separated isomers and another solution containing the other isomer from the bed, a port for introducing a desorbing liquid, an extract port for drawing out a solution containing a strongly adsorbable optical isomer, a port for introducing a solution containing an optical isomer mixture and a raffinate port for drawing out a solution being arranged in the packed bed in this order along the direction of fluid flow and the positions of these sorts being successively moved in the direction of fluid flow in the packed bed intermittently, wherein the optical resolution packing is selected from the group consisting of an optically active high-molecular compound, an optically active high-molecular compound supported on a carrier and a low-molecular compound having an optical resolution capability supported on a carrier. .Iaddend..Iadd.3. The process of claim 2, wherein the optical resolution packing is an optically active high-molecular compound. .Iaddend..Iadd.4. The process of claim 3, wherein the optical resolution packing is an optically active high-molecular compound and the optically active high-molecular compound is a polysaccharide derivative. .Iaddend..Iadd.5. The process of claim 2, wherein the optical resolution packing is a low-molecular compound having an optical resolution capability supported on a carrier. .Iaddend..Iadd.6. The process of claim 5, wherein the optical resolution packing is a low-molecular compound having an optical resolution capability supported on a carrier and the low-molecular compound is a cyclodextrin derivative. .Iaddend..Iadd.7. The process of claim 2, wherein the optical resolution packing is in the form of a particle. .Iaddend..Iadd.8. The process of claim 7, wherein the optical resolution packing is in the form of a particle and has a particle size in the range of from 20 to 50 μm. .Iaddend..Iadd.9. The process of claim 2, wherein the desorbing liquid comprises an organic solvent. .Iaddend..Iadd.10. The process of claim 9, wherein the desorbing liquid comprises an organic solvent and the organic solvent is an alcohol and/or 
     
     
        hydrocarbon. .Iaddend..Iadd.11.  The process of claim 10, wherein the desorbing liquid comprises an organic solvent, and the organic solvent is a mixture of an alcohol and a hydrocarbon. .Iaddend..Iadd.12. The process of claim 11, wherein the desorbing liquid comprises an organic solvent, the organic solvent is a mixture of an alcohol and a hydrocarbon and the alcohol and hydrocarbon is isopropanol and hexane. .Iaddend..Iadd.13. The process of claim 2, wherein the desorbing liquid comprises an aqueous solution containing a salt. .Iaddend..Iadd.14. The process of claim 13, wherein the desorbing liquid comprises an aqueous solution containing a salt and the salt is copper sulfate or a perchlorate. .Iaddend.