Abstract: A process for recovering at least one of purified polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acid mixtures from a feed composition includes a step of (i) treating the composition by either (a) stationary bed chromatography or (b) multistage countercurrent column fractionation in which a solvent is a fluid at supercritical pressure, and recovering at least one PUFA-enriched fraction. The process also includes a step of (ii) subjecting the fraction recovered in the treating step to further fractionation by simulated continuous countercurrent moving bed chromatography, and recovering at least one fraction containing the purified PUFA or the PUFA mixture.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for fractionation of component mixtures by chromatography or adsorption on a simulated mobile bed comprising three, four or five zones is described. A compressed gas is injected as eluent (IE, IR) using a compressor or pump, the pressure being lower than the critical pressure of the gas. At any point in at least one zone and preferably at any point in at least two zones from the eluent injection point (IR), the gas has a compressibility coefficient substantially different to 1. A supercritical fluid or a subcritical liquid may equally be injected as the eluent. The pressure between each zone may be altered.

Abstract: Separation/extraction/cracking method using a supercritical fluid in which the density of the fluid is reduced in a needle valve and directly brought into an assembly formed by a cyclonic chamber and a recovery pot and of which the walls are heated.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a fractionation process of a mixture by elution chromatography.It is characterized in that the collected eluent is purified, restored to supercritical state and recycled in the head of the column.It concerns a cracking process of mixtures by elution chromatography with liquid in the supercritical state and an installation for its operation.

Abstract: An improvement in the method of injection of liquid into an industrial device for separation by gas chromatography by means of a vaporizer swept by a vector, the liquid being brought to the vaporizer by a pipe containing a valve which, when opened and closed, permits the injection at a given rate of flow, of the predetermined quantity of liquid, the rapid purge of the fluids contained in the vaporizer and the adjacent ducts at the end of the injection, and the continuous slow purge between injections being insured by a system of valves, wherein the instantaneous vaporization is insured by a vaporizer-exchanger, and a branch permits the vector gas to short-circuit the vaporizer when the injection is shut off, while feeding the column.

Abstract: A process for storing heat in the form of fusion/solidification latent heat which comprises passing a thermo-conductive fluid into a thermally insulated storage element containing a substance having a melting point that corresponds to the supply and heat consumption temperatures, characterized in that said fusible substance is absorbed on a microporous carrier which forms a granular bed in which the thermo-conductive fluid circulates.