METHOD FOR SEPARATING BETAINE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method for chromatographic separation of betaine on a weakly acid cation exchange resin in H ⁺ form from sugar beet based solutions. Suitable sugar beet based solutions include for example solutions obtained from the processing of beet derived solutions, molasses, fermentation process solutions and vinasses. The present invention also relates to a method for chromatographic separation of additional compounds, such as polyols and/or carboxylic acids, on a weakly acid cation ex- change resin in H ⁺ form from sugar beet based solutions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Chromatographic separation has been used for recovering betaine from natural materials, such as beet molasses, betaine molasses, and vi- nasse. The resins most commonly used in the known chromatographic sepa- rations have been strong acid cation exchangers, i.e. sulfonated polystyrene cross-linked from 3.5 to 8 % by weight with divinyl benzene, the resin being in monovalent or divalent form. Water has generally been a preferred eluent, but the problem with using water has been that the various products, such as betaine, erythritol, inositol, sucrose and mannitol have similar retention times, whereby the fractions have overlapped.

US Patent 4,359,430 describes a process for recovering betaine from molasses and vinasse by using a chromatographic column of a salt of a polystyrene sulphonate cation exchange resin, and eluting with water. The strong acid cation exchange resin is in alkali metal form. The first fraction separated is a waste fraction, the second fraction contains a substantial proportion of the sugars of the feed solution and the third fraction consists principally of betaine.

US Patent Application 2002/0120135 describes a method for chromatographic separation of rhamnose and arabinose from other monosaccha- rides in xylose crystallization run-off using a weakly acid cation exchange resin in H ⁺ /Mg ²⁺ form.

US Patent Application 2005/0161401 describes a chromatographic method for separating betaine, mannitol, glycerol, and inositol from each other using a weakly basic anion exchange resin.

US Patent 6,770,757 describes a process for recovering betaine and additional compounds, such as erythritol, inositol, mannitol, glycerol and amino acids, from starting materials containing the corresponding compounds using a weakly acid cation exchange resin in Na ⁺ form in a chromatographic separation system. The pH-values of the feed solutions vary between pH 6 and pH 11 and those for the effluent, the solution coming out of the column, vary from 6.5 to 11. Betaine eluted from the system after salts, followed by erythritol, mannitol and glycerol. Inositol eluted last as a separate peak.

US Patent 5,032,686 describes a method for recovering citric acid from fermentation liquors using a strong acid cation exchange resin in H ⁺ -form. The first eluted fractions contained high molecular weight compounds such as saccharose, maltose and isomaltose. The subsequent fractions contained citric acid and the last fractions contained, for example, betaine and various organic acids, such as gluconic acid and oxalic acid. Tanaka K., et al., (Journal of Chromatography 850 (1999), 187-196) disclose an analytical ion-exclusion chromatographic method for separating carboxylic acids on a weakly acid cation exchange resin in H ⁺ form. When water was used as an eluent, the peak shape and the resolution between carboxylic acids were not satisfactory. In order to improve the peak shape, a di- luted sulphuric acid solution was tested as the eluent. Further, addition of methanol to this eluent was found to reduce the retention times of the carboxylic acids having hydrophobic nature. In addition to the molecular size exclusion and the ion exclusion, the order of elution was affected by the pKa-values and the hydrophobic/hydrophilic nature of the carboxylic acids. _ Betaine exists in plants, like sugar beet, in minor amounts and its recovery as a pure product from sugar beet extracts and side streams of sugar production or fermentation has required efficient enrichment methods like chromatographic separation. Now it has surprisingly been found that when using a weakly acid cation exchange resin in H ⁺ form for the chromatographic separation of compounds by fractionation, betaine can be separated from sugar beet based solutions, such as fermentation process solutions, vinasses and other sugar beet derived solutions, as a separate fraction eluting after the compounds previously known to elute after betaine. The order of elution of betaine on a weakly acid cation exchange resin in H ⁺ form is thus different from that previously known on strongly acid cation exchange resins or on a weakly acid cation exchange resin in Na ⁺ form. This phenomenon is particularly ad-

vantageous when fractioning multi-component solutions containing betaine and other compounds which have had similar or nearly similar retention times on the other separation media.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method for chromatographic separation of betaine from sugar beet based solutions on a weakly acid cation exchange resin in H ⁺ form. The present invention also relates to a method for chromatographic separation of additional compounds, such as polyols and/or carboxylic acids, from sugar beet based solutions on a weakly acid cation ex- change resin in H ⁺ form. Further, the present invention relates to a method for chromatographic separation of betaine from other carboxylic compounds on a weakly acid cation exchange resin in H ⁺ form by enriching betaine to a separate fraction. In addition, the present invention relates to a method for separating betaine from a sugar beet based solution in a chromatographic separation system, where a weakly acid cation exchange resin in H ⁺ form is used in at least one chromatographic column or a part of a column for the chromatographic separation. The present invention also relates to a method for chromatographic separation of betaine from sugar beet based solutions on a weakly acid cation exchange resin in H ⁺ form wherein the pH of the chroma- tographic system is used for regulating and/or controlling the retention factor of betaine. Further, the present invention relates to a use of a weakly acid cation exchange resin in H ⁺ form for chromatographic separation of betaine and optionally also additional compounds, such as poiyols and/or carboxylic acids, from a sugar beet based solution. The present invention also relates to a use of a weakly acid cation exchange resin in H ⁺ form for chromatographic separation of betaine from other carboxylic compounds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following drawings are illustrative embodiments of the invention and are not meant to limit the scope of the invention as defined in the claims. FIG. 1 is a graphical presentation of elution profiles and pH according to Example 1.

FIG. 2 is a graphical presentation of elution profiles and pH according to Example 2.

FIG. 3 is a graphical presentation of elution profiles and pH accord- ing to Example 3.

FIG. 4 is a graphical presentation of elution profiles and pH according to Example 4.

FIG. 5 is a graphical presentation of elution profiles and pH according to Example 5. FIG. 6 is a graphical presentation of elution profiles and pH according to Example 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

There is a continuous demand for exploiting additional raw materials for the recovery of industrially and/or nutritionally valuable compounds like betaine, polyols, and carboxylic acids. One alternative solution for the recovery of such compounds is to use sugar beet based fermentation process solutions, such as for example citric acid, yeast or ethanol fermentation process solutions or vinasses, such as citric acid or ethanol vinasses as raw materials. It has now surprisingly been found that when using a weakly acid cation ex- change resin in H ⁺ form as a column filling material in chromatographic separation, betaine can be separated in acidic conditions as a very pure fraction e.g. from fermentation process solutions. In addition, the acidic fermentation process solutions or vinasse in general, and vinasse from citric acid fermentation broth in particular, were found to be suitable solutions to be fractionated to an enriched betaine fraction with chromatographic separation on a weakly acid cation exchange resin in H ⁺ -form. Accordingly, pre-treating the solution to adjust the pH before the chromatographic separation would not be necessary.

In the circumstances described above, a strong acid cation exchange resin (SAC) in H ⁺ form, for example, would not remain stable. When salts are present in the feed solution, the functional group of the SAC resin will change very easily from the H ⁺ form into a metal cation form even in acidic environment unlike weakly acidic cation exchange resin does.

According to the present invention, a weakly acid cation exchange resin in H ⁺ form is used as a column filling material in a method for the chro- matographic separation of betaine, optionally as a separate fraction enriched with betaine, from sugar beet based solutions. Betaine can be recovered from the enriched fraction e.g. by crystallization. According to the present invention, a weakly acid cation exchange resin in H ⁺ form is also used in a method for the chromatographic separation of additional compounds as well, such as polyols and carboxylic acids, in addition to betaine, from sugar beet based solutions. Further, according to the present invention, a weakly acid cation ex-

change resin in H ⁺ form is used in a method for the chromatographic separation of betaine from other carboxylic compounds. According to the present invention, a weakly acid cation exchange resin in H ⁺ form is used at least in one chromatographic separation step for separating betaine. In addition, according to the present invention, a weakly acid cation exchange resin in H ⁺ form is used in at least one chromatographic column or one partial packed bed of a column in a chromatographic separation system for separating betaine from sugar beet based solutions.

In the present invention, a weakly acid cation exchange resin in H ⁺ form (hydrogen form) refers to a weakly acid cation exchange resin mainly in undissociated COOH form. The amount of the undissociated COOH form of the weakly acid cation exchange resin of the invention is more than 50%, preferably at least 67%, and more preferably over 90%.

The sugar beet based solution of the present invention is any solu- tion, hydralysate and/or extract derived from sugar beet. The solution may be obtained from further processing of such beet derived solutions by fermentation, for example a citric acid, yeast or ethanol fermentation or from the processing of sugar beet derived solutions, such as sugar beet molasses, betaine containing fractions, betaine molasses, mother liquor from betaine crystalliza- tion or vinasse. Fermentation solutions, molasses, and vinasse are typically rich in inorganic salts and contain typically betaine 5-75% on DS and a mixture of various kinds of additional organic compounds. The additional compounds to be separated by enriching alone or combined to a separate fraction or fractions by the method of the present invention include polyols, such as erythritQl, inositol, mannitol and glycerol and/or carboxylic acids, such as citric acid, lactic acid, acetic acid, oxalic acid, and pyrrolidone carboxylic acid and/or mixtures thereof. In the chromatographic separation of the present invention, compounds are separated to fractions, which are enriched with a target compound. The enriched fraction contains a higher concentration by weight on dry substance bases of the compound than the solution used as the feed solution. The method of the present invention could be performed independently or it could be combined with or comprise other process steps, such as e.g. an additional chromatographic separation, crystallization, evaporation, ion exchange, filtration, membrane filtration and/or some other known process step. The method according to the invention may preferably be combined or comprise one or more of the above-mentioned additional processing steps.

The additional chromatographic separation step could be performed using, for example, a strongly acid cation exchange resin (SAC), a strongly basic anion exchange resin (SBA) or a weakly basic anion exchange resin

(WBA) depending on the composition of the sugar beet based starting solution and/or on the compounds chosen to be separated.

The method according to the invention may preferably be combined with or comprise an additional step for recovering betaine. The recovery of be- taine could be performed, for example, by crystallization. The method according to the invention may optionally also be combined with or comprise a further step for recovering additional compound or compounds, such as polyols and/or carboxylic acids.

The chromatographic column or a part of the column (partial packed bed of the column) used in the method of the present invention is filled with a weakly acid cation exchange resin in H ⁺ form, preferably an acrylic cation ex- change resin having carboxylic functional groups. Such an acrylic resin is preferably derived from methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, butyl acrylate, methyl- methacrylate or acrylonitrile or acrylic acids or mixtures thereof. The resin may be crosslinked with a crosslinking agent, e.g. divinyl benzene (DVB). A suitable crosslinking degree is 1 to 20%, preferably 3 to 8%. An average particle size of the resin is normally 10 to 2000 μm, preferably 100 to 400 μm.

The chromatographic separation is preferably performed at temperatures from 10 to 95°C, more preferably from 30 to 95°C, most preferably from 65 to 95°C. It is known that a higher separation temperature decreases viscosity and improves the separation performance but is more harmful to the sensitive compounds of the feed solution.

The eluent used in the chromatographic separation according to the present invention is preferably water or pH-adjusted water.

The sugar beet based solution to be fractioned is optionally pre- treated before chromatographic separation by filtration, which can be carried out by using a pressure filter with or without a filter aid. Further, if necessary the pH of the solution to be used as a feed solution is adjusted to a pH-value below 6, preferably to a pH-value below 5.1 , more preferably to pH-values between 1.4 and 5.1 , and most preferably to pH-values between 3 and 4.5. When the pH of the feed solution is high (> 4.2), the weakly acid cation ex- change resin of the invention partly changes from its initial H ⁺ form into an ionic form and accordingly, becomes balanced on a specific H ⁺ form level. The

type of ionic form depends on the ions of the feed solution. In the preferred pH range of the feed solution, at pH-value below 4,2, the weakly acid cation exchange resin remains in its initial hydrogen form, and for numerous feeds the efficient chromatographic separation according to the invention can be per- formed without regeneration of the resin.

The feed solution may be filtered before or after the pH-adjustment. Prior to the chromatographic separation, the dry substance of the feed solution is adjusted to an appropriate level, preferably to a range 20-60%.

A feeding device is used for feeding the solution to a column. The temperature of the column, feed solution and eluent is most preferably approximately the same as the temperature of the chromatographic separation. This is accomplished by preheating the feed solution. Periodically added feed solution is eluted in the column by feeding water, for instance demineralized water or condensate water or some other aqueous solution into the column. Preferably, a preheated eluent is used. The flow rate in the column is adjusted to an appropriate level. During the elution, the separation or partitioning of compounds of the feed solution occurs within the column due to their differences in molecular size and ionic nature and/or hydrophobic/hydrophilic interactions of the compounds with the resin etc. and accordingly the fastest com- pounds exit the column first. Fractions enriched with target compounds are collected at suitable intervals. The out-flow from the column may be monitored by on-line instruments or analyzed in suitable periods. The product enriched in a fraction, e.g. betaine, and optionally also polyols, such as erythritol, manni- tol, inositol, glycerol and/or the carboxylic acids, such as citric acid, oxalic acid, lactic acid, acetic acid and/or pyrrolidone carboxylic acid (PCA) may be recovered by suitable methods such as for example crystallization.

The method of the present invention could be performed as a separate step in a multi-step process when an additional chromatographic separation, crystallization, evaporation and/or filtration, for example, is used at least once as an additional step of the multi-step process. Further, it is possible to arrange two or more chromatographic columns in a sequence wherein at least one column or a part of the column contain a weakly acid cation exchange resin in H ⁺ form, the other column or columns containing the same or a different type of resin such as a strongly acid cation exchange resin. The chroma- tographic system used can be either a batch process or a simulated moving

bed system. The simulated moving bed system can be either continuous or sequential.

It is also possible to connect two chromatographic columns or part of the columns containing weakly acid cation exchange resin in H ⁺ form to each other by some other process units. The process units can be for example filtration, membrane filtration, pH-adjustment or concentration by evaporation. It is obvious to a person skilled in the art that the order of the process units may be selected and varied.

In one embodiment, the method of the invention is performed as an independent process. In this embodiment, the sugar beet based solution is feeded into a column filled with weakly acid cation exchange resin in H ⁺ form, and the components of the feed solution are eluted with an eluent to separate them into at least two fractions wherein one of the fractions is enriched with betaine. Feed solution may thus be fractioned into a fraction enriched with be- taine and optionally also into another fraction or other fractions enriched with additional compounds. Preferably, betaine and optionally also the additional compound are further recovered from the fraction containing the specific compound. The additional compounds to be separated by the method of the present invention include polyols, such as erythritol, inositol, mannitol, glycerol and/or carboxylic acids, such as citric acid, lactic acid, acetic acid and pyrroli- done carboxylic acid and/or mixtures thereof.

In another embodiment, the method of the invention is performed as a separate step in a multi-step process wherein it is combined with at least one additional process step. In this embodiment, the sugar beet based solu- tion may- be fractioned on a first chromatographic column containing for example a strongly acid cation exchange resin which is connected to a second column containing a weakly acid cation exchange resin in H ⁺ form into a fraction enriched with betaine and optionally the other fraction or fractions enriched with an additional compound(s). Preferably, betaine and optionally also the additional compound are further recovered from the fraction containing the specific compound. Such an arrangement further improves the separation performance and increases the yields and purity of the products. The yield of betaine is also improved by removing the side products from the process.

Yet in another embodiment, the method of the invention comprises at least one additional process step wherein method of the invention is a separate step in a multi-step process. The additional process step could be chro-

matographic separation, crystallization, evaporation, filtration and/or membrane filtration, for example.

In general, the order of elution of different compounds on weakly acid cation exchange resins seems to be affected, in addition to the molecular size exclusion and ion exclusion by the hydrophobic/hydrophilic interactions of the compounds with the resin. According to prior studies, the order of elution of different compounds (e.g. carboxylic acids) on a weakly acid cation exchange resin in H ⁺ form is affected by the pKa-values of the compounds. Generally, the lower the pKa-value, the shorter the retention time of the same compound. However, the order of elution of betaine (pKa = 1.832) on a weakly acid cation exchange resin in H ⁺ form does not follow these rules exclusively. Surprisingly, it seems that the weakly acid cation exchange resin in H ⁺ form is more hydrophobic than in metal cation form (such as, Na ⁺ , K ⁺ , etc.) and has a very high affinity for betaine, which is a hydrophobic molecule. In the method of the present invention, the order of elution of the separated components in a chromatographic column is different from the order obtained by the earlier methods based e.g. on using weakly acid cation exchange resin in Na ⁺ form or strongly acid cation exchange resins, and this feature can be advantageously used in separating the components of a multi- component composition from each other. According to the present invention, betaine is efficiently enriched and separated from salts, erythritol, inositol, mannitol, glycerol and carboxylic acids due to its elution (higher retention factor) later than the listed ones. Further, for example inositol is separated from betaine and glycerol due its elution before glycerol and betaine in the method of the invention.

Surprisingly, the retention volume and the retention factor of betaine were found to vary with the pH of the chromatographic separation, especially with the pH of the feed solution, the lower the pH, the higher the retention factor. The elution of betaine from the chromatographic separation column is af- fected by changes in the pH of the feed solution while most of the carboxylic compounds elute approximately at the same time, regardless of the pH of the feed solution. The retention factor of betaine can be controlled and/or regulated by adjusting the pH of the chromatographic separation. The adjustment of the pH of the chromatographic separation can be carried out by adjusting the pH of the eluent and/or feed, but is preferably performed by adjusting the pH of the feed solution to the desired level, to pH below pH 6. For example, by

changing the pH of the feed solution from pH 5.1 to pH 1.4, the retention factor of betaine changes from 1.3 to 2.9. Lowering the pH of the sugar beet based feed solution below pH-value 5.1 can be used to retard the elution speed of betaine when a column filled with a weakly acid cation exchange resin in H ⁺ form is used in the chromatographic separation. Accordingly, more efficient enrichment of betaine to the betaine fraction can be achieved. Thus, by adjusting the ph of the feed solution, the chromatographic separation of betaine from other compounds in sugar beet based solutions can be optimized on a weakly acid cation exchange resin in H ⁺ form. The adjustment of pH of the feed solu- tion can also be used for controlling and/or regulating the chromatographic separation of betaine from other carboxylic compounds on a weakly acid cation exchange resin in H ⁺ form.

The method according to the present invention makes it possible to enrich betaine 1.5 to 50, preferably 2 to 5 fold, from a sugar beet based solu- tion to betaine fraction e.g. with a maximum purity more than 50% on DS, advantageously more than 70% on DS and more advantageously more than 85% on DS.

The method according to the present invention makes it possible to separate and optionally also recover betaine in good yields and with high pu- rity (80 to 95% on dry solids (DS)) from a sugar beet based solution, such as fermentation process solutions and/or vinasses, which has been laborious by known methods using e.g. a weakly acid cation exchange resin in Na ⁺ form or a strongly acid cation exchange resin. For example, when strongly acid cation exchange (SAC) resin is used for the chromatographic separation of betaine, the same yield and purity levels are achieved with two chromatographic separations while only one separation on a weakly acid cation exchange resin in H ⁺ form is necessary. Further, the method according to the present invention also makes it possible simultaneously or separately to enrich and recover additional compounds, such as polyols like erythritol, inositol, mannitol, glycerol and/or carboxylic acids like citric acid, lactic acid and/or pyrrolidone carboxylic acid in good yield and purity from fermentation process solutions or vinasses, which has also been laborious by known methods.

In one embodiment according to the method of the invention, using citric acid vinasse as a feed solution enables betaine and citric acid to be re- covered to separate fractions. Betaine and citric acid are both enriched with 1.5 to 20, preferably 2 to 5 fold. Betaine can be enriched to a betaine fraction

with the purity over 60% on DS, more preferably over 80% on DS, and citric acid to a separate fraction with the purity over 20% on DS, more preferably over 35% on DS, respectively.

One advantage of the method of the present invention is that one eluent, water, could be used efficiently for separating the desired compounds on a weakly acid cation exchange resin in H ⁺ form and also on the optional additional chromatographic steps. When water is used as the eluent in a chromatographic separation, the handling is easier, costs are lower and safety is higher. In the separation, the different elution order of betaine and for ex- ample inositol offers additional benefit in the method of the present invention, making it also possible to efficiently enrich the additional compounds, such as erythritol, inositol, mannitol, glycerol, citric acid, lactic acid and/or pyrrolidone carboxylic acid in addition to betaine.

According to IUPAC (International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry ), terms related to the chromatographic process and the theory of chromatography includes:

^• Hold-up volume (time) (VM, tM ) is equal to the retention volume (time) of an unretained compound.

^• Adjusted retention volume (time) (VR ¹ , tR ¹ ) is the total elution volume (time) minus the hold-up volume (time).

• Retention factor (k) is mathematically the ratio of the adjusted retention volume (time) to the hold-up volume (time): k = VRWM = tR'/tM.

The following examples illustrate the present invention. The examples are not to be construed to limit the claims in any manner whatsoever.

EXAMPLE 1

A comparative example showing chromatographic separation of a betaine run-off with a weakly acid cation exchange resin in Na ⁺ form (pH 8.9)

A betaine run-off originated from a chromatographic separation of beet molasses and contained several compounds like betaine, inositol, erythritol, mannitol and glycerol. As a feed solution, it was subjected to chromatographic separation that was performed in a laboratory chromatographic separation column as a batch process. The column with a diameter of 0.045 m was filled with an acrylic weak acid cation exchange resin (Finex CA 12 GC) manufactured by Finex Oy, Finland. The resin was an ethyl acrylate based resin. The height of the resin was about 0.70 m. The cross-linkage degree of

the resin was 6.0% DVB and the average particle size of the resin was 0.26 mm. The resin was in Na ⁺ form. The pH of the resin was high after the manufacturing process. A feeding device was placed at the top of the resin bed. The temperature of the column, the feed solution and the eluent water was ap- proximately 8O ⁰ C. The flow rate in the column was adjusted to 4 ml/min. The feed solution was filtered via a filter by using diatomaceous earth as a filter aid. The pH of the feed solution was 8.9.

The chromatographic separation was carried out as follows: Step 1 : The dry substance of the feed solution was determined and adjusted to 25 g dry substance in 100 g solution according to the refractive index (Rl) of the solution.

Step 2: 100 ml of preheated feed solution was pumped to the top of the resin bed (through the feeding device).

Step 3: The feed solution was eluted downwards in the column by feeding preheated ion-exchanged water to the top of the column.

Step 4: 10 ml samples of the outcoming solution were collected at 3 min intervals. The concentration, conductivity (mS/cm) and pH of the samples were determined. The composition of the samples was analyzed with HPLC (Ca ²⁺ -column, 0.6 ml/min, 0.001 M Ca(NOa) ₂ , 85°C). Betaine eluted from the column after salts. Saccharose had a retention time almost identical to that of betaine. The hold-up volume of 99 min and elution time of 168 min gave betaine the retention factor of 0.7. Erythritol, mannitol and glycerol had nearly similar retention times eluting almost as one peak after the betaine peak. Inositol eluted last as a separate peak. The elu- tion order is consistent with the hydrophobic/hydrophilic nature of the components. The used resin separated betaine and inositol from the other main components, salts, glycerol, mannitol, and erythritol. The pH of the effluent (i.e. outcoming solution) was between 8 and 11. The separation profile is presented in Figure 1.

EXAMPLE 2

Chromatographic separation of vinasse with a weakly acid cation exchange resin in H ⁺ form (pH 3.6)

The starting liquor used for the separation was vinasse from a fermentation process of citric acid. The vinasse mainly contained betaine, glyc- erol, inorganic salts, and organic acids like citric acid and minor amounts of

lactic acid, oxalic acid, acetic acid, PCA and sugars. The vinasse had approximately the following composition (% on RDS):

Betaine 17.1

Glycerol 1.8 Citric acid 7.8

Other substances 73.3

The pH of the solution was 3.6.

The solution was filtered via a filter by using diatomaceous earth as a filter aid. The vinasse was used as the feed solution and it was subjected to chromatographic separation. The separation was performed in a pilot scale chromatographic separation column as a batch process. The column with a diameter of 0.09 m was filled with a weakly acid cation exchange resin (Finex CA 16 GC, 8% DVB, capacity 4.4 eqv/l) manufactured by Finex Oy, Finland. The resin was an acrylate based resin and the average particle size of the resin in sodium form was 0.41 mm. The resin was regenerated into hydrogen (H ⁺ ) form, after which the height of the resin bed was approximately 1.7 m. The temperature of the column, the feed solution and the eluent water was 75°C. The flow rate in the column was adjusted to 3 l/h.

The chromatographic separation was carried out repeating following steps:

Step 1 : The dry substance of the feed solution was adjusted to 35 g dry substance in 100 g solution according to the refractive index

(Rl) of the solution.

Step 2: 640 ml of preheated feed solution was pumped to the top of - the resin bed.

Step 3: The feed solution was eluted downwards in the column by feeding preheated ion-exchanged water to the top of the column.

Step 4: 50 ml samples of the outcoming solution were collected at 5 min intervals. The concentration, conductivity (mS/cm) and pH of the samples were determined. The composition of the samples was analyzed with HPLC (Na ⁺ column, 0.6 ml/min, 85°C, 0.003 M

Na ₂ SO ₄ ).

The elution started with inorganic salts and continued with organic acids and alditols. Betaine eluted from the column as the last of the main components. The pH of the effluent varied between 1.9 and 4.6. A total of 5 feeds were made, during which the resin ion form was not fully stabilized. After

these separations, 93% of the resin was in hydrogen form on the top of the resin bed. The resin separated betaine very well from other components; the hold-up volume was 75 min and the elution time was 278 min. The retention factor of betaine in this separation was 2.7. Betaine could be collected as a high purity (80 to 95%/DS) fraction with a good yield (>90%), Citric acid was collected as a fraction with the purity of 20 to 50% on DS. Retention factors (k) of betaine and some organic acids of the feed solution are presented in Table 1. The pKa values presented in Table 1 are taken from Lange's Handbook of Chemistry, (15 ^th Edition), 1999. It can be seen that these acids elute according to their pKg (1 ^st ) value. Surprisingly, betaine, whose pKa value is 1.832, makes an exception and elutes as the last component. The separation profile is presented in Figure 2.

TABLE 1

EXAMPLE 3 Chromatographic separation of vinasse with a weakly acid cation exchange resin in H ⁺ -form (phi 5.1)

The starting liquor used for the separation was vinasse from a fermentation process of ethanol. The vinasse mainly contained betaine, glycerol, inorganic salts, and organic acids and had approximately the following compo- sition {% on RDS):

Betaine 13.8

GlyceroM2.3

Others 73.9

The pH of the solution was 5.1. The solution was filtered via a filter by using diatomaceous earth as a filter aid. The vinasse was used as the feed solution and it was subjected to chromatographic separation. The separation was performed in a pilot scale

chromatographic separation column as a batch process. The column with a diameter of 0.09 m was filled with a weakly acid cation exchange resin (Finex CA 16 GC ₁ 8% DVB, capacity 4.4 eqv/l), manufactured by Finex Oy, Finland. The resin was an acrylate based resin and the average particle size of the resin in sodium form was 0.41 mm. The resin was regenerated into hydrogen (H ⁺ ) form, whereafter the height of the resin bed was approximately 1.7 m. The temperature of the column, the feed solution and the eluent water was 75°C. The flow rate in the column was adjusted to 3 l/h. The chromatographic separation was carried out by repeating the following procedure : Step 1 : The dry substance of the feed solution was adjusted to 35 g dry substance in 100 g solution according to the refractive index

(Rl) of the solution.

Step 2: 0.6 I of preheated feed solution was pumped to the top of the resin bed. Step 3: The feed solution was eluted downwards in the column by feeding preheated ion-exchanged water, whose pH was adjusted to

3 to 4 by formic acid, to the top of the column.

Step 4: 50 ml samples of the outcoming solution were collected at 5 min intervals. The concentration, conductivity (mS/cm) and pH of samples were determined. The composition of the samples was analyzed with HPLC (Na ⁺ column, 0.6 ml/min, 85°C, 0.003 M

The elution started with inorganic salts and continued with organic acids and alditols. Betaine eluted from the column later than the other main components. The place of the betaine peak shifted backwards (i.e. closer to the peaks of other components) before the equilibrium of the ionic form of the resin was reached. After 53 feeds, 67% of the resin on top of the resin bed was in H ⁺ form. At that stage the hold-up volume of betaine was 75 min and the elution time was 180 min. The retention factor of betaine was 1.3 and the maximum purity of the betaine peak was over 75%. The pH of the effluent varied between 4.4 and 6.3. The separation profile of the 53rd feed is presented in Figure 3.

EXAMPLE 4

Chromatographic separation of vinasse with a weakly acid cation exchange resin in H ⁺ form (pH 4.2)

The starting liquor used for the separation was vinasse from a fer- mentation process of ethanol. The vinasse mainly contained betaine, glycerol, inorganic salts, and organic acids and had approximately the following composition (% on RDS):

Betaine 15.8 Glycerol 11.5 Others 72.7.

The vinasse was used as the feed solution and it was subjected to chromatographic separation. The separation was performed in a pilot scale chromatographic separation column as a batch process. The column with a diameter of 0.09 m was filled with a weakly acid cation exchange resin (Finex CA 16 GC, 8% DVB ₁ capacity 4.4 eqv/l). The resin was an acrylate based resin and the average particle size of the resin in sodium form was 0.41 mm. The resin was regenerated into hydrogen (H ⁺ ) form after which the height of the resin bed was approximately 1.7 m. The temperature of the column and the feed solution and the eluent water was 75°C. The flow rate in the column was adjusted to 3 l/h. The pH of the feed solution was adjusted to 4.2 by sulphuric acid (H ₂ SO ₄ ). The feed solution was filtered via a filter by using diato- maceous earth as a filter aid.

The chromatographic separation was carried out as follows: Step 1 : The dry substance of the feed solution was adjusted to 35 g - dry substance in 100 g solution according to the refractive index

(Rl) of the solution.

Step 2: 2 I of preheated feed solution was pumped to the top of the resin bed.

Step 3: The feed solution was eluted downwards in the column by feeding preheated ion-exchanged water, whose pH was adjusted to

4.2 by formic acid, to the top of the column. Step 4: 50 ml samples of the outcoming solution were collected at 5 min intervals. The concentration, conductivity (mS/cm) and pH of the samples were determined. The composition of the samples was analyzed with HPLC (Na ⁺ column, 0.6 ml/min, 85°C, 0.003 M

Na ₂ SO ₄ ).

The elution started with inorganic salts and continued with organic acids and alditols. Betaine eluted from the column later than the other main components, but somewhat earlier compared to the lower feed pH separation presented in Example 2. The hold-up volume was 75 min and the elution time was 205 min. The retention factor of betaine at this pH was 1.7 and maximum purity over 80% on DS was obtained in the betaine fraction. Purity of the glycerol fraction, which eluted before betaine, was over 20% on DS. A total of 20 feeds were made, during which the resin ion form was stabilized; 89% of the resin was in hydrogen form on the top and bottom of the resin. The pH of the effluent was between 4.0 and 6.4. The separation profile of the 20th feed is presented in Figure 4.

EXAMPLE 5

Chromatographic separation of vinasse with a weakly acid cation exchange resin in H ⁺ form (pH 3.1) The starting liquor used for the separation was vinasse from a fermentation process of citric acid. The vinasse mainly contained betaine, glycerol, inorganic salts, and organic acids had approximately the following composition (% on RDS): Betaine 19.8 Glycerol 3.0

Others 77.2.

The vinasse was used as the feed solution and it was subjected to chromatographic separation. The separation was performed in a pilot scale chromatographic separation column as a batch process. The column with a diameter of 0.09 m was filled with a weakly acid cation exchange resin (Finex CA 16 GC, 8% DVB, capacity 4.4 eqv/l). The resin was an acrylate based resin and the average particle size of the resin in sodium form was 0.41 mm. The resin was regenerated into hydrogen (H ⁺ ) form after which the height of the resin bed was approximately 1.6 m. The temperature of the column and the feed solution, and the eluent water was 75°C. The flow rate in the column was adjusted to 3 l/h. The pH of the feed solution was 3.1.

The chromatographic separation was carried out as follows: Step 1 : The dry substance of the feed solution was adjusted to 35 g dry substance in 100 g solution according to the refractive index (Rl) of the solution. Step 2: 1.5 1 of preheated feed solution was pumped to the top of the resin bed.

Step 3: The feed solution was eluted downwards in the column by feeding preheated ion-exchanged water, whose pH was adjusted to 3-4 by formic acid, to the top of the column. Step 4: 50 ml samples of the outcoming solution were collected at 5 min intervals. The concentration, conductivity (mS/cm) and pH of the samples were determined. The composition of the samples was analyzed with HPLC (Na ⁺ column, 0.6 ml/min, 85°C, 0.003 M Na ₂ SO ₄ ). The elution starts with inorganic salts and continues with organic acids and alditols. Betaine elutes from the column as the last of the main components. The hold-up volume for betaine was 75 min, the elution time was 245 min, and its retention factor was 2.3. The pH of the effluent (e.g. the out- coming solution) varied between 2.4 and 4.3. A total of 54 feeds were made, during which the resin ion form was stabilized, and > 99% of the resin was in hydrogen form. The resin separates betaine very well from other components, and maximum purity over 85% on DS was obtained in the betaine fraction. The separation profile is presented in Figure 5.

EXAMPLE 6 Chromatographic separation of vinasse with a weakly acid cation exchange resin in H ⁺ form (pH 1.4)

The starting liquor used for the separation was vinasse from a fermentation process of ethanol. The vinasse, which mainly contained betaine, glycerol, inorganic salts, and organic acids, had approximately the following composition (% on RDS):

Betaine 14.0

Glycerol 10.6

Others 75.4.

The vinasse was used as the feed solution and it was subjected to chromatographic separation. The separation was performed in a pilot scale chromatographic separation column as a batch process. The column with a

diameter of 0.09 m was filled with a weakly acid cation exchange resin (Finex CA 16 GC ₁ 8% DVB, capacity 4.4 eqv/l). The resin was an acrylate based resin and the average particle size of the resin in sodium form was 0.41 mm. The resin was regenerated into hydrogen (H ⁺ ) form after which the height of the resin bed was approximately 1.6 m. The temperature of the column and the feed solution and the eluent water was 75°C. The flow rate in the column was adjusted to 3 l/h. The pH of the feed solution was adjusted by strong sulphuric acid (H ₂ SO ₄ ) to 1.4 and it was filtered via a filter by using diatomaceous earth as a filter aid. The chromatographic separation was carried out as follows:

Step 1 : The dry substance of the feed solution was adjusted to 35 g dry substance in 100 g solution according to the refractive index

(Rl) of the solution.

Step 2: 0.7 I of preheated feed solution was pumped to the top of the resin bed.

Step 3: The feed solution was eluted downwards in the column by feeding preheated ion-exchanged water, whose pH was adjusted to

2.2 by strong H ₂ SO ₄ , to the top of the column.

Step 4: 50 ml samples of the outcoming solution were collected at 5 min intervals. The concentration, conductivity (mS/cm) and pH of the samples were determined. The composition of the samples was analyzed with HPLC (Na ⁺ column, 0.6ml/min, 85°C, 0.003 M

Na ₂ SO ₄ ).

The elution starts with inorganic salts and continues with organic acids and alditols. Betaine elutes from the column as the last of the main components. The hold-up volume for betaine was 75 min, the elution time was 290 min and its retention factor was 2.9. The pH of the effluent (e.g. the out- coming solution) varied between 1.3 and 3.3. The resin separates betaine very well from other components, and maximum purity over 85% on DS was ob- tained in the betaine fraction. The separation profile is presented in Figure 6.

EXAMPLE 7

Betaine crystallization

Betaine from the concentrated betaine rich fraction was crystallized as follows. The betaine containing feed liquid was added to a 400-litre boiling crystallizer. The evaporation was started. First spontaneous crystals were seen at DS of about 79%, at a temperature of 99°C. After spontaneous seed-

ing, the boiling crystallization was continued for 3 hours at a temperature of about 100 ⁰ C, and new feed liquid was added continuously into the boiling crys- tallizer. A 400-litre batch of the mass obtained by boiling crystallization (DS of mass 87%) was discharged. The mass was centrifuged and betaine anhy- drous product was dried.