| abstract |
A process for separating a selected component from a fluid mixture of components by employment of an ion exchange resin. Fluid flow is maintained through a column containing the adsorbent in at least three separation zones, an adsorption zone in which the selected component is adsorbed by the adsorbent, a purification zone and a desorption zone from which the selected component is displaced by a desorbent material. There is also a backflushing zone, upstream of either the feed or desorbent stream inlets, in which the direction of fluid flow is opposite the direction of flow through the three separation zones. The zones are periodically shifted through the column by advancing the input and output streams. The backflushing serves to decrease the density of the resin bed thereby controlling the pressure drop developed through that bed when it is in service as part of a separation zone. The ion exchange resin particularly suitable for the invention is an alkali metal salt of a nuclearly sulfonated styrene-cation exchange resin containing a cross-linking agent. The process of the invention is particularly suitable for the separation of a saccharide from an aqueous solution of saccharides. |