SIMULATED MOVING-BED IN THE PRODUCTION OF LYSINE

AECI Bioproducts produces lysine by a microbial process utilizing a Co rynebacterium glutamicum strain. Corn steep liquor is used as the prot ein source and high test molasses as the carbohydrate source. Lysine i s recovered from the bio-suspension and subsequently purified using tw o ion-exchange units. Primary ion-exchange recovers lysine from the bi o-suspension at a purity of about 97.5%, The eluate is further purifie d by roughly 1% in secondary ion-exchange to yield a final product of greater than 98.5% purity. Secondary ion-exchange uses a weak acid cat ionic resin to remove inorganic impurities. Both unit operations utili se ISEP(R) carousel ion-exchange units. The rotating chambers constitu te a continuous bed which is contacted counter-currently with the feed and elution streams. In actual operation the units proved to be relia ble and very flexible. Counter-current operation has resulted in reduc ed resin inventory and increased operating efficiency. Reagent consump tion is close to stoichiometric and final product concentration is muc h higher than an equivalent fixed bed system would allow. (C) 1997 Els evier Science B.V.