Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for the purification of a saccharide, characterized in that, water and a feedstock solution containing at least L-arabinose and oligosaccharide where L-arabinose and/or xylose are/is the constituting component(s) obtained by hydrolysis of plant tissues are supplied to a chromatographic apparatus of a simulated moving-bed system where a solution can be circulated in one direction in an apparatus equipped with a packed bed in which an adsorbent is filled and the solution in the packed bed is moved in one direction whereupon at least L-arabinose and oligosaccharide are separated each other and concentration distribution of each of them is formed in the packed bed, then at least a concentrated L-arabinose solution and a concentrated oligosaccharide solution are extracted from the packed bed and, in addition, an inlet for the feedstock solution, an inlet for water, an outlet for the concentrated L-arabinose solution and an outlet for the concentrated oligosaccharide solution are succes

Abstract: In an apparatus and method for purifying water, an oxidation forcibly turns colloidal substances into fine particles of oxides, thus increasing the size of the particles. The effluent of oxidation process is treated by ion exchange process, and then treated by membrane process. Because of the increased size of the particles, they are easily removed in the subsequent ion exchange process. The membrane process is thereby prevented from clogging up, and then removes fine particles that cannot be removed by the ion exchange process. Colloidal substances are thus removed effectively from raw water.