METHOD FOR PURIFYING COENZYME Q

PURPOSE:To obtain purified coenzyme Q, by using plural column chromatography mutually connected in series, by passing a solution of crude coenzyme Q through the columns successively, discharging an initial cut fraction from each column to the outside of the system and recovering the coenzyme Q from the final column. CONSTITUTION:A solution of crude coenzyme Q in a solvent is from a feed pipe 18 to a first column 1 among mutually connected columns in series, each component is developed, adsorbed on a packing material, then the solvent is poured from a pipe 4 for the first column top while the solution is discharged from a first column bottom valve 8 and an initial cut fraction as an impurity is discharged from the first column through the valve 8 to the outside of the system. Then when the coenzyme Q in the discharged solution is detected by a detector 11, the valve 8 is closed, a valve 16 is opened, the discharged solution of the first column is transferred from a first connecting pipe 14 to a second column 2 and the same operations are successively carried out to purify the coenzyme Q. EFFECT:The amounts of packing material and solvent can be reduced.