ABSTRACT
The cross-flow magnetically stabilized bed chromatograph is a device for continuous separation of multicomponent feeds in which the components are separated by the magnetically stabilized fluidized bed (MSB) solids and the fluidizing carrier fluid moving in different directions. Cross-flow MSBs have been found to have nearly plug flow of solids under a broad range of conditions. The cross-flow MSB chromatograph consists of a magnetically stabilized bed with solids flowing horizontally. Properties of a cross-flow MSB that make it advantageous for use as a separation tool include the plug flow of both gas and solids, without which the device would not work efficiently. Chromatographic separation makes use of the difference in sorption equilibria of components in a feed when contacted with a suitable stationary phase. The MSB regime existing at velocities between the minimum fluidization velocity and the transition velocity to bubbling is useful in performing chromatographic separations.
