Modeling and computationally efficient simulation of chromatographic separation processes

Chromatographic separation processes are an emerging technology, especially in the field of fine chemicals and pharmaceutical products. As an alternative to conventional batch chromatography, the simulated moving bed (SMB) process gained more and more impact recently. Because of the complex dynamics, the automatic control of chromatographic separation processes is a challenging task, the solution of which requires reliable and computationally efficient simulation models. The purpose of this contribution is to give an overview about the generation of dynamic models both for single chromatographic columns and SMB processes. We here distinguish chromatographic processes by the type of adsorption isotherm and proceed from the ideal model for chromatographic columns while increasing the model complexity as far as necessary in order to build a simulation model which on the one hand is computationally effective and on the other hand correctly describes the dynamics of the process which is relevant for on-line optimization and control purposes.