An apparatus disclosed herein is for implementing new mass transfer method to eliminate displacement zone via maintaining installed resin in column in semi-dry status for superior mass transfer between two phases. Through implementing following methods comprising new mass transfer method, differential set-up and via single stage recycle procedures integrating with modules, apparatus herein disclosed is operated in a contained loop comprising multiple modules connected in sequence and yet function independently to simultaneously feeding raw solution containing glucose and fructose, inputting eluent water, retrieving raffinate glucose and product fructose, and other recycling mixtures to enhance concentration of separated fractions and capable of continuous separation of glucose and fructose feed solution into 100% yield of respective pure component. Disclosed apparatus cutbacks nearly 40% of resin stock compared under same feed throughput with traditional simultaneous moving bed process that has separation of 88% recovery of 90% fructose purity in product stream.

Methods of preparing highly purified steviol glycosides, particularly Rebaudioside D, are described. The methods include purification from the extraction stage of the Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni plant, purification of steviol glycoside mixtures, Rebaudioside D and Rebaudioside A from a commercial Stevia extract, and purification of Rebaudioside D from remaining solutions obtained after isolation and purification of Rebaudioside A and a high purity mixture of steviol glycosides. The methods are useful for producing high purity Rebaudioside D, Rebaudioside A, and steviol glycoside mixtures. The high purity steviol glycosides are useful as non-caloric sweeteners in edible and chewable compositions such as any beverages, confectioneries, bakery products, cookies, and chewing gums.

A method for operating a chromatography system comprises the system assuming a first configuration, wherein a first pump is fluidly connected to a first separation column, and a second pump is fluidly connected to a second separation column. Further the method comprises while in the first configuration the first pump providing a fluid to the first separation column, the second pump providing a fluid to the second separation column, determining a second pump target pressure, determining a first pump target pressure based on the second pump target pressure, and setting the first pump to provide fluid at the first pump target pressure. Furthermore, the method comprises the system switching to a second configuration, wherein the first pump is fluidly connected to the second separation column, while the first pump provides fluid at the first pump target pressure. Additionally disclosed are a respective chromatography system and computer program product.

Various embodiments are directed to a valve switching system for selectively interconnecting components of a bioprocess installation, comprising a valve switching cassette and an actuator block. It is proposed, that the valve switching cassette comprises a perforated backer plate securing a valve membrane structure to a cassette manifold, that the actuator block comprises a drive membrane structure with at least one drive membrane and a perforated backer plate securing the drive membrane structure to an actuator block body, wherein for selectively switching valve units, an actuator of the actuator block may urge the drive membrane structure through aligned perforation holes of both backer plates into engagement with the valve membrane structure.

A method for green and low-cost extraction of nickel-cobalt from laterite nickel ore includes the following steps: (1) iron removing pretreatment: adding an iron removing agent to the high-pressure leaching solution of the laterite nickel ore to reduce the iron concentration to less than 0.2 g/L to obtain a laterite nickel ore leaching solution; (2) nickel adsorption: adsorbing and enriching nickel in the laterite nickel ore leaching solution using a first resin adsorption process to obtain a nickel adsorption resin and a nickel adsorption tail liquid; wherein the nickel adsorption resin is desorbed to obtain a crude nickel solution; (3) cobalt adsorption: subjecting the nickel adsorption tail liquid to cobalt adsorption and enrichment by a second resin adsorption process and to obtain a cobalt solution by desorbing; (4) copper adsorption: subjecting the crude nickel solution to a third resin adsorption process for removing copper to obtain a purified nickel solution. The process of the disclosure is green, environmentally friendly, has a short process flow, saves the consumption of a large number of reagents, reduces the comprehensive recovery cost of nickel and cobalt, and can greatly reduce the amount of water in the process of purifying a nickel sulfate solution by removing copper through a resin, thus improving the production efficiency.

A parallel assembly of chromatography column modules connected in a rigid housing the assembly having one common assembly inlet and one common assembly outlet each column module comprising a bed space filled with chromatography medium and each column module comprises integrated fluid conduits which when the column module is connected with other column modules in the rigid housing are adapted to connect the bed space of the column module with the assembly inlet and the assembly outlet wherein the total length and/or volume of the fluid conduit from the assembly inlet to one bed space together with the length and/or volume of the fluid conduit from the same bed space to the assembly outlet is substantially the same for all bed spaces and modules installed in the parallel assembly.

A method for green and low-cost extraction of nickel-cobalt from laterite nickel ore includes: (1) iron removing pretreatment: adding an iron removing agent to a high-pressure leaching solution of the laterite nickel ore to reduce an iron concentration to less than 0.2 g/L to obtain a laterite nickel ore leaching solution; (2) nickel adsorption: adsorbing and enriching nickel in the laterite nickel ore leaching solution using a first resin adsorption process to obtain a nickel adsorption resin and a nickel adsorption tail liquid; wherein the nickel adsorption resin is desorbed to obtain a crude nickel solution; (3) cobalt adsorption: subjecting the nickel adsorption tail liquid to cobalt adsorption and enrichment by a second resin adsorption process to obtain a cobalt solution by desorbing; (4) copper adsorption: subjecting the crude nickel solution to a third resin adsorption process for removing copper to obtain a purified nickel solution.

Methods and systems directed to the separation of a heavy hydrogen isotope, e.g., tritium, from an aqueous stream are described. The methods and systems incorporate a separation media that includes a proton conducting ceramic that at low temperatures preferentially adsorbs heavy hydrogen isotopes and at high temperature preferentially adsorbs lighter heavy hydrogen isotopes. The methods can be temperature controlled to sequentially purify a contaminated stream and regenerate the separation media. The separation media can be free of traditional hydrogen isotope exchange catalyst materials.

A parallel assembly of chromatography column modules connected in a rigid housing the assembly having one common assembly inlet and one common assembly outlet each column module comprising a bed space filled with chromatography medium and each column module comprises integrated fluid conduits which when the column module is connected with other column modules in the rigid housing are adapted to connect the bed space of the column module with the assembly inlet and the assembly outlet wherein the total length and/or volume of the fluid conduit from the assembly inlet to one bed space together with the length and/or volume of the fluid conduit from the same bed space to the assembly outlet is substantially the same for all bed spaces and modules installed in the parallel assembly.

Provided are an apparatus and a method for ion-exchange extraction of lithium from natural or technological brine by using a lithium-selective inorganic sorbent operating on a principle of an ion sieve. The apparatus contains a plurality of ion-exchange columns arranged and interconnected in sequence. Flows of the brine, flush water, acidic desorption solution, and outputs, of the processed products are controlled via switchable shut-off valves. The method can be carried out by operating the apparatus in a parallel or a serial mode of column operations. In the parallel mode, all columns work simultaneously in the same manner. In the serial mode of operation, the columns work individually with a shift of the sorption-flushing-desorption-flushing cycles sequentially and with a transfer of the processed brined sequentially from the first column to the last column and from the last column to the first one thus providing continuity of the lithium-extraction process.