Simulated moving bed adsorptive separation process for handling multiple feedstocks

A simulated countercurrent adsorptive process for separating a desired chemical from a mixture of two or more chemical compounds within a multi-bed adsorbent chamber, the process comprising the steps of:

• introducing a stream of a first feed material having a first initial concentration of the desired compound;
• introducing a second feed material having a second initial concentration of the desired chemical compound into the adsorbent chamber upstream direction of the first stream of feed material;
• flowing the stream of first feed material downstream through the adsorbent chamber;
• flowing the stream of second feed material downstream through the adsorbent chamber;
• adsorbing the desired chemical from the first feed material to produce a first raffinate material;
• adsorbing the desired chemical compound from the second feed material by the selected adsorbent and thereby producing a second raffinate material;
• removing the second raffinate material from the adsorbent chamber at the second transfer point;
• and
• recycling a stream of material from said process into said process at a location having a composition similar to either of said first or said second initial concentration, said recycled stream being located downstream of said second feed stream or said first feed stream.

A simulated adsorptive process for separating a desired chemical from a mixture of two or more chemical compounds, the process comprising the steps of:

• introducing a stream of a first feed material having a first initial concentration of the desired compound;
• introducing a second feed material having a second initial concentration of the desired chemical compound;
• flowing the stream of first feed material through the adsorbent process;
• flowing the stream of second feed material through the adsorbent process;
• adsorbing the desired chemical from the first feed material to produce a first raffinate material;
• adsorbing the desired chemical compound from the second feed material by the selected adsorbent and thereby producing a second raffinate material;
• removing the second raffinate material from the adsorbent chamber at a transfer point;
• recycling a stream of material located downstream of said first and/or said second feed material stream into said process.