Trends in the chromatographic separation of molasses

The chromatographic separation of molasses has been practiced on industrial scale for 30 years. Several trends are identified during this history including the first industrial trials, the first wave of batch separation plants (SMB) and finally the big boom of simulated moving bed plants in the US. Current technology suppliers, processes and users are shortly described. Two main process types are currently available: the continuous and the sequential simulated moving beds. The continuous SMB-plants offer simple operation in a compact package, but they are mechanically complicated, inflexible and they are poor in multi-component separations. The sequential SMB-plant can be mechanically very simple and it offers very good flexibility. This flexibility and the discontinuous operation may sometimes feel like drawbacks, but the technology offers superior separation of multiple components. Molasses contains a number of components, which may be useful products in addition to sucrose. Betaine is mentioned as an example. Key performance figures are compared. A prediction of future trends is attempted.