Separation of arabinose by selective adsorption on zeolitic molecular sieves

Claim 2

A selective adsorption process for the separation of L-arabinose from a mixture containing arabinose which comprises contacting said mixture at a pressure sufficient to maintain the system in the liquid phase with an adsorbent composition comprising a BaX crystalline aluminosilicate zeolite, whereby arabinose is selectively adsorbed thereon, removing the non-adsorbed portion of said mixture from contact with the zeolite adsorbent and desorbing the adsorbent therefrom by contacting said adsorbent with a desorbing agent and recovering the desorbed adsorbate.

Claim 3

A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein the temperature is from about 4°C to about 150°C.

Claim 4

A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein the temperature is from about 20°C to about 110°C.

Claim 5

4 . A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein the desorbent is selected from the group consisting of water and mixtures thereof with alcohols or ketones.

Claim 6

A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein the desorbent is water.

Claim 7

A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein said mixture comprises a mixture of sugars.

Claim 8

A process in accordance with claim 6 wherein said sugar mixture contains arabinose and at least one of galactose, sucrose, glucose, fructose, mannose, xylose and cellobiose.

Claim 9

A process in accordance with claim I wherein said mixture comprises a mixture of sugars derived from the hydrolysis of wood.

Claim 10

A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein said mixture comprises the hydrolysis product of beet pulp.

Claim 11

A selective adsorption process for the separation of L-arabinose from a mixture containing L-arabinose which comprises contacting said mixture at a pressure sufficient to maintain the system in the liquid phase with an adsorbent composition comprising a BaX crystalline aluminosilicate zeolite, whereby L-arabinose is selectively adsorbed thereon, removing the non-adsorbed portion of said mixture from contact with the zeolite adsorbent and desorbing the adsorbent therefrom by contacting said adsorbent with a desorbing agent and recovering the desorbed aasorbate.

Claim 12

A selective adsorption process for the separation of L-arabinose from a mixture containing L-arabinose which comprises contacting said mixture at a pressure sufficient to maintain the system in the liquid phase with an adsorbent composition comprising a BaX crystalline aluminosilicate zeolite, whereby L-arabinose is selectively adsorbed thereon, removing the non-adsorbed portion of said mixture from contact with the zeolite adsorbent and desorbing the adsorbent therefrom by contacting said adsorbent with a desorbing agent and recovering the desorbed aasorbate.

Claim 13

A process in accordance with claim 11 wherein said mixture comprises the hydrolysis product of L-arabinose-D-galactan.