Design, optimization, and operation of SMB chromatography in the production of enantiomerically pure pharmaceuticals

The utility of simulated moving bed (SMB) chromatography for the preparativ e chromatographic enantioseparation on chiral stationary phases (CSP) is sh own. A design and optimization methodology is proposed and verified with pr oduction scale enantioseparations. The study combines two modelling approac hes. The equilibrium theory for true countercurrent (TCC) liquid chromatogr aphy is used to generate a first set of operating parameters. Afterwards, d etailed process optimization is done by systematic simulation studies with the rigorous dynamic SMB process model. Using the preparative enantiosepara tions of two new drug candidates, EMD 53986 a precursor of a cardiovascular drug and a chroman ester derivative which is a precursor of EMD 128130, th e model approaches are verified and compared. The necessity and benefit of careful system design and optimization by detailed process simulation is de monstrated. Chirality 11:440-450, 1999. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.