| abstract |
The invention relates to a process for purification of a fatty acid containing, multi-component mixture (F) by means of at least two individual chromatographic columns through which the mixture (F) is fed by means of at least one solvent (s). According to the invention, the multi- component mixture (F) at least comprises weakly adsorbing impurities (W), a first target product (P1)to be purified, an intermediate impurity (S1), a second target product (P2) to be purified, and strongly adsorbing impurities (S2), the first target product (P1) is first fatty acid, e.g. eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), or a derivative thereof, and the second target product (P2) is a second fatty acid different from the first target product (P1), or a derivative of said second fatty acid. For the purification a multicolumn countercurrent purification chromatography is used, and in this multicolumn countercurrent purification chromatography at least one outlet thereof is further separated by using outlet fractionation. |