Development of an integrated process for electrochemical reaction and chromatographic SMB-separation

A new continuous process combining electrochemical reaction and chromatographic simulated-moving-bed (SMB) separation is presented. To demonstrate the potential of process integration, this reactor concept is applied to the direct electrochemical production of arabinose by means of simulation. Experimentally verified models of 'reactor' and 'column' units are combined with a model of the electrochemical SMB-reactor. These process units are characterized individually and their model parameters are discussed. The electrochemical reaction inside the microreactor can be described by a series reaction, which has an impact on the design of the integrated process: as the reaction should take place in areas of the SMB-process with maximum educt concentration, the reactors are switched 'on' and 'off' during operation. The integrated process shows interaction between the reaction and the separation to diminish side reactions. Case studies prove the theoretical feasibility of the integrated process. Compared to a conventional process with a reactor followed by a SMB-separation, higher yields can be obtained.