Disclosed is a continuous process for the purification of steviol glycosides such as Rebaudioside D and/or Rebaudioside M extracted from the dried stevia leaves or extracted from a fermentation broth using continuous simulated moving bed processes and nanofiltration without the addition of organic solvents to obtain a purified steviol product comprising sweet steviol glycosides. The sweet steviol glycosides can be used as substitutes for caloric sweeteners in beverages and in other food items.

An assembly is provided that comprises: at least one valve cassette block (20) comprising a plurality of valves (25) which are controllable via a control surface (24) of the valve cassette block (20); a valve control block (10) having an operation surface (11), the valve control block (10) being configured to control each of the plurality of valves (25) when the operation surface (11) is in contact with the control surface (24) of the at least one valve cassette block (20), the valve control block (10) comprising at least one sliding trench (14) formed in the operation surface (11); at least one sliding component (30) configured to slidably interlock with the at least one sliding trench (14) such that the at least one sliding component (30) is movable relative to the valve control block (10) in a sliding direction parallel to the operation surface (11), at least one pulling bracket (40, 50) configured to embrace the at least one valve cassette block (20) and to interact with the at least one sliding component (30) such that a sliding movement of the at least one sliding component (30) in the at least one sliding trench (14) causes the pulling bracket (40, 50) to pull the at least one valve cassette block (20) with its control surface (24) against the operation surface (11) of the valve control block (10).

A simulated moving-bed type chromatographic separation method including separating a weakly adsorptive component, a strongly adsorptive component, and an intermediately adsorptive component that has adsorptive property intermediate between the two components, with respect to an adsorbent, with two or more kinds of eluents by using a circulation system in which a plurality of unit packed columns each packed with an adsorbent are connected in series and in an endless form via pipes, the weakly adsorptive component, the strongly adsorptive component, and the intermediately adsorptive component being contained in a feed solution, wherein a feed solution supply port, eluent suply ports and a plurality of extraction ports are provided on the pipes of the circulation system, and positions of the feed solution supply port and the plurality of extraction ports are set to have a specified relationship; and a chromatographic separation system suitable for implementing the chromatographic separation method.

An assembly is provided that comprises: a valve cassette block (20) comprising a plurality of valves (25) which are controllable via a control surface (24) of the valve cassette block (20); a valve control block (10) having an operation surface (11), the valve control block (10) being configured to control each of the plurality of valves when the operation surface (11) is in close contact with the control surface (24) of the valve cassette block (20) in an operation position; at least one swiveling door (30) hinged to the valve control block (20) such that an open state of the swiveling door (30) allows arranging the valve cassette block (20) into the operation position with its control surface (24) arranged at the operation surface (11) of the valve control block, while a closed position of the swiveling door (30) is configured to hold the valve cassette block (20) in the operation position with an inner surface of the swiveling door (30) abutting a rear surface (26) of the valve cassette block (20) opposite to its control surface (24); and at least one flexible pressurizing tube (45) arranged at the inner surface of the swiveling door (30) such that the pressurizing tube presses against the rear surface (26) of the valve cassette block (20), when the pressure in the pressurizing tube (45) is increased.

The present invention describes a fluid distribution and collection device of a simulated moving bed separation unit comprising N plates, themselves divided into meridian panels, which device makes it possible to maintain an approximately identical residence time for each portion of fluid.

An illustrative valve block includes a plate, a fluid transfer block, and a diaphragm. The plate includes a channel configured to receive a first fluid and a recess connected to the channel. The fluid transfer block includes an inlet connection configured to receive a second fluid and an outlet connection. The fluid transfer block also includes a plurality of valve inlet bores connected to the inlet connection. The plurality of valve inlet bores are distributed along at least part of a first curved shape. The fluid transfer block further includes a plurality of valve outlet bores each fluidly connected to the outlet connection. The plurality of valve outlet bores are distributed along at least part of a second curved shape. The diaphragm is between the pressure plate and the fluid transfer block. The plurality of valve inlet bores and the plurality of valve outlet bores adjoin the recess.

A valve block includes a fluid-transfer plate with multiple inlet bores connecting to a common inlet channel, and multiple outlet bores connecting to a common outlet channel. The inlet bores and the outlet bores are arranged in a curved shape. The valve block also includes a pressure plate and diaphragm aligned and connected to the fluid-transfer plate in a way that allows pressurized material in the pressure plate to control the state of the channels formed by the inlet and outlet bores.

A valve block includes a fluid-transfer plate with multiple inlet bores connecting to a common inlet channel, and multiple outlet bores connecting to a common outlet channel. The inlet bores and the outlet bores are arranged in a curved shape. The valve block also includes a pressure plate and diaphragm aligned and connected to the fluid-transfer plate in a way that allows pressurized material in the pressure plate to control the state of the channels formed by the inlet and outlet bores.

The present invention relates to a method for separating one or more components from a liquid feed mixture in an EBA-SMB operating mode without the need of pumps at the outlets of the EBA columns. The present invention also relates to a simulated moving bed separation device with expanded bed adsorption columns which can be used in the method according to the invention.

An illustrative valve block includes a plate, a fluid transfer block, and a diaphragm. The plate includes a channel configured to receive a first fluid and a recess connected to the channel. The fluid transfer block includes an inlet connection configured to receive a second fluid and an outlet connection. The fluid transfer block also includes a plurality of valve inlet bores connected to the inlet connection. The plurality of valve inlet bores are distributed along at least part of a first curved shape. The fluid transfer block further includes a plurality of valve outlet bores each fluidly connected to the outlet connection. The plurality of valve outlet bores are distributed along at least part of a second curved shape. The diaphragm is between the pressure plate and the fluid transfer block. The plurality of valve inlet bores and the plurality of valve outlet bores adjoin the recess.