Experimental study of a simulated counter-current adsorption system-V. Comparison of resin and zeolite absorbents for fructose-glucose separation at high concentration

Abstract

The operation of a simulated counter-current adsorption process for separation of fructose-glucose mixtures has been studied experimentally at high concentration under conditions similar to those employed in the commercial process with both CaY zeolite and Duolite resin as the adsorbent. The overall performance of the system is similar for both adsorbents although the flow conditions required to achieve separation are significantly different. At high concentration the equilibrium isotherms deviate somewhat from linearity and this has an important effect on the concentration profile (and therefore the performance) of the counter-current unit. The equilibrium stage model, with due correction for the concentration dependence of the apparent distribution coefficients, is shown to provide a good representation of the system behaviour. © 1987.