Adsorption separation method and apparatus therefor

Claim 2

(2) A method according to Claim 1, wherein during the course of the third step the feed of the desorbent fluid to the separator is conducted from one feed port whereas the withdrawal of the fluid from the separator is changed from one withdrawal port to another.

Claim 3

(3) A method according to Claim 1, wherein the feed of the desorbent to the separator in the third step is conducted from two different feed ports and the withdrawal of the fluid from the separator is conducted from two withdrawal ports which are located downstream of the respective feed ports.

Claim 4

(4) A method according to any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the starting fluid is an aqueous solution containing fructose and glucose and said desorbent is water.

Claim 5

(5) A method according to Claim 4, wherein said adsorbent is a calcium salt type, strongly acidic, cation-exchange resin.

Claim 6

(6) A method according to any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein said starting fluid is molasses and said desorbent is water.

Claim 7

(7) A method according to Claim 6, wherein said adsorbent is an alkali metal salt type strongly acidic cation- exchange resin.

Claim 8

(8) A method according to Claim 6, wherein, during the course between the first step and the second step, there is provided an additional step wherein water is fed to the separator from the starting fluid feed port or a portion upstream of said feed port and simultaneously a fluid rich in ashes is withdrawn from downstream of said starting fluid feed port.

Claim 9

(9) A method for separating a mixture by using an adsorption separator which comprises three packed sections 1 to 3 into which an adsorbent is packed and which are connected in series, the rear end of the third section and the front end of the first section being connected through a fluid passage so that the fluid can be circulated through the separator, the method comprising the first step of introducing the starting fluid from the front end of the third section into the third section to allow the fluid to pass downward through the third section and simultaneously withdrawing a fluid from the rear end of the third section to the outside in an amount equal to the feed of the starting fluid, the second step of stopping the feed of the fluid to and the withdrawal of the fluid from the separator and moving the fluid in the separator in a direction from the first section toward the second section, the third step of introducing a desorbent fluid from the front end of the first section into the first section to allow the fluid to pass through the first section while withdrawing a fluid discharging from the rear end of the first section to the outside in an amount equal to the feed of the desorbent fluid, the fourth step of introducing the desorbent fluid from the front end of the first section into the first section to allow the fluid to pass downward through the first section simultaneously with a fluid discharging from the rear end of the first section and a fluid discharging from the rear end of the second section being allowed to pass downward through the second section and the third section, resp.,and withdrawing a fluid discharging from the rear end of the third section to the outside in an amount equal to the feed of the desorbent fluid, and repeating the above steps.

Claim 10

(10) A method for separating a mixture by using an adsorption separator which comprises four packed sections 1 to 4 into which an adsorbent is packed and which are connected in series, the rear end of the fourth section and the front end of the first section being connected through a fluid passage so that the fluid can be cir- : culated through the separator, the method comprising a first step of introducing a starting fluid to the front end of the third section to pass downward through the third section and simultaneously withdrawing a fluid discharging from the rear end of the third section to the outside in an amount equal to the feed of the starting fluid, a second step of stopping the feed of the fluid to and the withdrawal of the fluid from the separator and moving the fluid left in the separator in a direction from the first section toward the second section, a third step of introducing a desorbent fluid from the front end of the first section into the same section and simultaneously withdrawing a fluid discharging from the rear end of the same section to the outside in an amount equal to the feed of the desorbent fluid, a fourth step of introducing the desorbent fluid from the front end of the first section to pass downward through the same section simultaneously with the fluid; discharging from the rear end of the first section and the fluid discharging from the rear end of the second section being allowed to pass downward through the second section and the third section, resp. while withdrawing a fluid discharging from the rear end of I the third section to the outside in an amount equal to the feed of the desorbent fluid, and repeating the above steps.

Claim 11

(11) A method for separating a mixture by using an adsorption separator which comprises four packed sections 1 to 4 into which an adsorbent is packed and which are connected in series, the rear end of the fourth section and the front end of the first section being connected through a fluid passage so that the fluid can be circulated through the separator, the method comprising a first step of introducing the starting fluid from the front end of the third section to pass downward through the same section and simultaneously withdrawing the fluid discharging from the rear end of the same section to the outside in an amount equal to the feed of the starting fluid, a second step of stopping the feed of the fluid to and the withdrawal of the fluid from the separator and moving the fluid in the separator in a direction from the first section toward the second section, a third step of introducing a desorbent fluid from the front end of the first section to pass downward through the same section simultaneously with a fluid discharging from the rear end of the same section and a fluid discharging from the rear end of the second section being allowed to pass downward through the second section and the third section, resp. while withdrawing a fluid discharging from the rear end of the third section to the outside in an amount equal to the feed of the desorbent fluid, a fourth step of introducing the desorbent fluid from the front end of the first section to pass downward from the same section and withdrawing a fluid discharging from the same section to the outside in an amount equal to the feed of the desorbent fluid, and repeating the above steps.

Claim 12

(12) A method of separating a mixture by using an adsorption separator which comprises four packed sections 1 to 4 into which an adsorbent is packed and which are connected in series, the rear end of the fourth section and the front end of the first section being connected through a fluid passage so that the fluid can be circulated through the separator, the method comprising a first step of introducing the starting fluid from the front end of the third section to pass downward through the same section and simultaneously withdrawing a fluid discharging from the rear end of the same section to the outside in an amount equal to the feed of the starting fluid, a second step of stopping the feed of the fluid to and the withdrawal of the fluid from the separator and moving the fluid left in the separator in a direction from the first section toward the second section, a third step of introducing desorbent fluid from the front end of the first sect- ion to allow it to pass downward through the same section and simultaneously withdrawing a fluid discharging from the rear end of the same section to outside in an amount equal to the feed of the desorbent fluid, a fourth step of introducing the desorbent fluid from the front end of the first section to pass downward through the same section simultaneously with fluids discharging from the rear end of the first section, from the rear end of the second section and from the rear end of the third section being allowed to pass downward through the second section, the third section and the. fourth ; section, resp.,while withdrawing a fluid discharging from the rear end of the fourth section to the outside in an amount equal to the feed of the desorbent fluid, and repeating the above steps.

Claim 13

(13) A method for separating a mixture by using an adsorption separator which comprises four packed sections 1 to 4 into which an adsorbent is packed and which are connected in series, the rear end of the fourth section and the front end of the first section being connected through a fluid passage so that the fluid can be circulated through the separator, the method comprising a first step of introducing the starting fluid from the front end of the third section to allow it to pass downward through the same section and simultaneously permitting a fluid discharging from the rear end of the same section to pass downward through the fourth section and withdrawing a fluid discharging from the rear end of the fourth section to the outside in an amount equal to the feed of the starting fluid, a second step of stopping the feed of the fluid to and the withdrawal of the fluid from the separator and moving the fluid left in the separator in a direction from the first section toward the second section, a third step of introducing a desorbent fluid from the front end of the first section to allow it to pass downward through the same section and simultaneously withdrawing a fluid discharging from the rear end of the same section to outside in an amount equal to the feed of the desorbent fluid, a fourth step of introducing the desorbent fluid from the front end of the first section to pass downward through the same section simultaneously with a fluid discharging from the rear end of the-first section and a fluid discharging from the rear end of the second section being allowed to pass downward through the second section and the third section, resp., while withdrawing a fluid discharging from the rear end of the third section to the outside in an amount equal to the feed of the desorbent fluid, and repeating the above steps.

Claim 14

(14) A method for separating sucrose from molasses by using an adsorption separator which comprises three packed sections 1 to 3 into which an adsorbent is packed and which are connected in series, the rear end of the third section and the front end of the first section being connected through a fluid passage so that a starting fluid can be circulated through the separator, the method comprising a first step of introducing molasses from the front end of the third section to pass downward through the same section and simultaneously withdrawing an aqueous solution rich in sucrose from the rear end of the same section to the outside in an amount equal to the feed of the molasses, a second step of introducing water from the front end of the first section to pass downward through the same section simultaneously with an aqueous solution dis- charging from the rear end of the first section and an aqueous solution discharging from the rear end of the second section being allowed to pass downward through : the second section and the third section, resp., while withdrawing an aqueous solution rich in ashes dis- ; charging from the rear end of the third section to the : outside in an amount equal to the feed of the water, a third step of stopping the feed of the fluid to and the withdrawal of the fluid from the separator and moving the aqueous solution left in the separator in a direction from the first section toward the second section, a fourth step of introducing water from the front end of the first section to pass downward through the same section and simultaneously withdrawing an aqueous solution rich in reducing sugar discharging from the rear end of the first section to the outside in an amount equal to the feed of the water, a fifth step of introducing water from the front end of the third section to pass downward through the same section and simultaneously withdrawing an aqueous solution rich in sucrose discharging from the rear end of the same section to the outside in an amount equal to the feed of water, and repeating the above steps.

Claim 15

(15) An adsorption separator comprising three packed sections 1 to 3 into which an adsorbent is packed and which are connected in series, the front end of the first packed section being connected with the.rear end of the third packed section through a fluid passage so that a fluid can be circulated through the respective packed sections., at least one pump mounted in the circulating system, an inlet port for a starting fluid which is located between the rear end of the second packed section and the front end of the third section, a port for introducing a desorbent fluid into the separator which port is provided at least between the rear end of the third packed section and the front end of the first packed section, and two ports for withdrawing fluids from the separator, one provided between the rear end of the first packed section and the front end of the second packed section and the other at an intermediate between the front end of the third packed section and the front end of the first packed section, the latter of which is located upstream of f the fluid introduction port in case the latter withdrawal port is provided between the rear end of the third packed section and the front end of the first packed section, wherein a means for inhibiting the backward flow of the fluid is provided in the fluid passage between the withdrawal port and the intro- duction port.

Claim 16

(16) An adsorption separator according to Claim 15, wherein the third packed section is composed of two first and second sub-sections which are connected in series and a withdrawal port for the fluid from the separator is ; provided between the rear end of the first sub-section and the front end of the second sub-section.

Claim 17

(17) An adsorption separator according to Claim 15, wherein the third packed section is composed of two first and second sub-sections which are connected in series and two withdrawal ports for the fluid from the separator are provided between the rear end of the first sub-section and the front end of the second sub-section and between the rear end of the second sub-section and' the front end of the first packed section, resp.

Claim 18

(18) An adsorption separator according to Claim 15, wherein an introduction port of a desorbent fluid into the separator is provided between the rear end of the second packed section and the front end of the third packed section.