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Since the types and densities of the desorbents can easily be changed,
fixed-bed chromatography can be applied to the separation of many types
of useful substances. However, in cases where a more precise separation
is required, the fact that the fixed-bed chromatographic process results
in a material with a low concentration means that higher costs are entailed
in once again raising the material's concentration. Thus, although it is
difficult to use this method in cases where the final product is not very
expensive, the process is still one which can easily be used to separate
many components.
However, there are some additional deficiencies which surface when this
method is used on a large scale:
1. The entire adsorbent bed is not efficiently utilized.
2. A large quantity of desorbent is consumed, and the separated components
are obtained in a diluted state.
3. In order to obtain a successful separation, a sufficiently large difference
in the adsorption affinities of the adsorbates is required.
4. The operation is not continuous.
Due to these deficiencies, there have been many innovative attempts to
improve the fixed-bed mode so that it can be used as an industrial device. |