摘要:
A simulated moving bed type chromatographic separation apparatus is provided in which a plurality of columns each filled with a hydrophobic adsorbent for reversed-phase liquid chromatography having a relatively low affinity for tocotrienol than that for tocopherol are connected cyclically and in series. To the chromatographic separation apparatus, a raw material fluid containing at least several tens of percent of tocopherol and tocotrienol and consisting substantially 100% of oil constituents and an eluent of ethanol-water = 90/10 are supplied so that a fraction fluid enriched with tocotrienol is separated from tocopherol. With this configuration, preparation of tocotrienol from a raw material fluid containing a large amount of tocopherol and tocotrienol can be achieved in a commercial scale through a method not too different from the conventionally known simulated moving bed type chromatographic separation and the initial investment cost and running cost can be reduced.