The present invention describes a process for the production of high-purity paraxylene from a xylenes cut containing xylenes and ethylbenzene, a process using two simulated moving bed separation units and two isomerization units.

Processes and apparatuses for producing a C.sub.8 aromatic isomer product are provided. The apparatus comprises an isomerization unit to provide an isomerized stream. An isomerate stripper column is in communication with the isomerization unit to provide an isomerate stripper overhead stream comprising C.sub.6 hydrocarbons in an isomerate overhead line and an isomerate stripper bottoms stream in an isomerate bottoms line. A dividing wall naphthene splitter column is in communication with the isomerate bottoms line to provide an overhead naphthene splitter stream comprising the C.sub.8 naphthenes and C.sub.7 aromatic hydrocarbons in a naphthene splitter overhead line and a naphthene splitter sidedraw stream comprising C.sub.8 aromatic isomers in a naphthene splitter sidedraw line. An extractive distillation column is in communication with the naphthene splitter overhead line to provide a recycle feedstream comprising the C.sub.8 naphthenes in a recycle line and an extract stream comprising the C.sub.7 aromatic hydrocarbons in an extract line.

A method for measuring the concentrations of species present at at least one point of a separation unit operating in simulated moving bed (SMB) mode, or a hybrid separation unit employing a step for simulated moving bed (SMB) separation and a step for crystallization, by calibration by inline acquisition of Raman spectra for different mixtures; analysis by inline signal processing of the Raman spectrum.

The present invention relates to a method for obtaining a compound, after removing at least a portion of insoluble substances or macromolecules from a fermentation broth, by performing one or more of the following steps (a) to (c), and recovering a desired compound: (a) increasing the concentration of a desired compound in the fermentation broth; (b) reducing the concentration of a residual carbon source or alcohol in the fermentation broth; and (c) reducing the concentration of ionic components in the fermentation broth.

The present invention provides a chromatography medium comprising one or more electrospun polymer nanofibres which in use form a stationary phase comprising a plurality of pores through which a mobile phase can permeate and use of the same.

It is an object of the invention to provide a process for producing an organic acid, comprising: providing an incoming stream containing an organic acid and impurities; subjecting said incoming stream to a step of chromatographic separation, using a solution of mineral acid as an eluent, so as to collect an extract and a raffinate, the organic acid being recovered in the extract; and subjecting the raffinate to an electrodialysis step, so as to collect a diluate and a concentrate, the mineral acid being concentrated in the concentrate. The invention also provides an installation for implementing this process.

Processes and apparatuses for producing a C.sub.8 aromatic isomer product are provided. The apparatus comprises an isomerization unit to provide an isomerized stream. An isomerate stripper column is in communication with the isomerization unit to provide an isomerate stripper overhead stream comprising C.sub.6 hydrocarbons in an isomerate overhead line and an isomerate stripper bottoms stream in an isomerate bottoms line. A dividing wall naphthene splitter column is in communication with the isomerate bottoms line to provide an overhead naphthene splitter stream comprising the C.sub.8 naphthenes and C.sub.7 aromatic hydrocarbons in a naphthene splitter overhead line and a naphthene splitter sidedraw stream comprising C.sub.8 aromatic isomers in a naphthene splitter sidedraw line. An extractive distillation column is in communication with the naphthene splitter overhead line to provide a recycle feedstream comprising the C.sub.8 naphthenes in a recycle line and an extract stream comprising the C.sub.7 aromatic hydrocarbons in an extract line.

Processes for separating a di-carboxylic acid or salt thereof from a mixture containing the di-carboxylic acid or salt thereof and one or more other components are provided. Also separation media useful for these separation processes is provided. In particular, processes for preparing an aldaric acid are described, such as glucaric acid from glucose, which includes separating the aldaric acid from the reaction product. Also, various glucaric acid products are described.

Provided are apparatus and systems for performing a swing adsorption process. This swing adsorption process may involve passing an input feed stream through two swing adsorption systems as a purge stream to remove contaminants, such as water, from the respective adsorbent bed units. The wet purge product stream is passed to a solvent based gas treating system, which forms a wet hydrocarbon rich stream and a wet acid gas stream. Then, the wet hydrocarbon rich stream and the wet acid gas stream are passed through one of the respective swing adsorption systems to remove some of the moisture from the respective wet streams.

The present invention discloses a process for preparing high-purity raffinose from defatted wheat germ comprising the steps of percolate extraction of raffinose from defatted wheat germ, decoloration by extraction from the abstraction liquid, electrodialysis desalination, impurity removal by simulated moving bed, concentration and crystallization, with the absolute purity of raffinose as high as 98% and the recovery up to 75%. The process is not only reliable and easy to operate, but also easy to realize industrial production and control the parameters.