Method and device for chromatographic purification

A process for continuous or quasi-continuous purification of a multi-component mixture (F) by means of individual chromatographic columns through which the mixture is fed by means of at least one solvent (s),

• wherein the multi-component mixture (F) at least comprises light impurities (A), an intermediate product (B) to be purified and heavy impurities (C),
• wherein there are two columns providing the function of at least four sections (α,β,γ,δ), in which
• the first section (α) is provided with at least one inlet of solvent (s) and at least one outlet for purified intermediate product (B), such that it washes the purified intermediate product (B) out of the system, but keeps the heavy impurities (C) inside the section (α),
• the second section (β) is provided with at least one inlet of solvent (s) and at least one outlet connected to an inlet of the fourth section (β), such that it washes the intermediate product (B), which is contaminated with heavy impurities (C) into the fourth section (δ) through said outlet, but keeps the pure heavy impurities (C) inside the section (β),
• the third section (γ) is provided with at least one inlet of solvent (s) and an outlet for heavy impurities (C), such that it washes out the heavy impurities (C) through said outlet and cleans the chromatographic column(s), and
• the fourth section (δ) is provided with at least one inlet to receive output of the outlet of the second section (β) as well as at least one inlet for feeding in the multi-component mixture (F) and at least one outlet for light impurities (A), such that it washes the light impurities (A) out of the system, but keeps the intermediate product (B) inside the section (δ),
• wherein after or within a switch time (t*) the last column from the first section (α) is moved to the first position of the second section (β), the last column of the second section (β) is moved to the first position of the third section (γ), the last column of the third section (γ) is moved to the first position of the fourth section (δ) and the last column of the fourth section (δ) is moved to become the first column of the first section (α),
• wherein the functions of the sections are either fulfilled synchronously or sequentially,
• wherein the fourth section (δ) comprises three sub-sections (δf, δg, δr), wherein
• the first sub-section (δf) comprises at least one inlet for feeding in the multicomponent mixture (F) and at least one outlet either for direct removal of light impurities (A) out of the system or into an inlet of the third sub-section (δr),
• the second sub-section (δq) comprises at least one inlet for taking up output of the second section (β) and at least one outlet connected to at least one input of the third sub-section (δr), and
• the third sub-section (δr) comprises at least one inlet for taking up output of the second sub-section (δg) and possibly at least one inlet for taking up output of the first sub-section (δf), and at least one outlet, and
• wherein:
• in a first part of the switch time the two columns are connected in series for continuous elution while by means of the outlet light impurities (A) are collected,
• in a second part of the switch time the two columns are driven in batch mode for collecting the intermediate fraction (B) on the upstream column and light impurities (A) on the downstream column while at the same time feeding the multi-component mixture (F) into the downstream column,
• in a third part of the switch time the two columns are connected in series for continuous elution while by means of the outlet light impurities (A) are collected, and
• in a fourth part of the switch time the two columns are driven in batch mode for collecting the heavy impurities (C) on the upstream column and light impurities (A) on the downstream column, and
• after each switch time of the positions of the two columns are interchanged.