Axallable online at wwrwsciencedirect.com scrnce Ghomnecr: iydomealagy 74 (2008) 19-38 hydrometalluray semvelevirsoavleeatay drome Des ign of solvent extraction circuit schemes Edelmira D. Galvez**, Carlos A. Vega", Ross E. Swaney”, Luis A. Cisternas® "Departamento de Ingenieria Metainsice, Univeded Catia del Norte, Cala 1280-Antsagasta, Chile ‘Deparonont of Chemical Engonoring, Unversity of sone, USA “Departamento de ingeneria Quimica. Universidad de Anoopesta. Casta 170-Antfagasta, Chie Received 10 September 2002 received in revised frm 25 September 2003; accepted 27 Oster 2003 Abstract The technology of solvent extraction i the hydrometalagical industry typicslly consists of two ciruits, an extraction circuit and a striping circuit, coupled by s common solvent. Process flow pattems regulrly range from stxgle-olvent circulation Toops fo schemes employing solvent and aqucous bypass or intermediate solvent reeyele. The design of these processes wing graphical methods rans into a series of complications produced by the coupling of te flow loops In this pape ‘graphical method is developed forthe preliminary analysis of different flow structures for these coupled cteuits, The method is simple an ean be perforrnd by hand. Several examples are presented to illustrate the uilty ofthe proposes method. (© 2003 Elsevier B.W. All rights reserved 1. Introduction Solvent extraction is one of the most frequently used technologies in modern hydrometallurgy, as well as in some water recycling processes. The technology has been applied to the extraction of numerous me~ tallic elements (Gupta and Mukherjee, 1990; Habashi, 1993), and many advances in the application of this technology have been developed (Rydberg et al., 1992), Solvent extraction essentially is a separation process based on apparent equilibrium steps. In a ‘majority of tydrometallurgical applications, it consists of two circuits of apparent equilibrium stages coupled by @ common solvent. In the first step, the metal is extracted from an aqueous solusion by an organic solvent. In the second step, the metal is recovered © Comesponding autor 0304-3863 see from mater © 2003 Fever BV. Ail ight esrve 14:10. 10165 yen 2005.10.005, from the organic solvent, providing recovery of dhe solvent and producing a more concentrated and more pure aqueous solution ‘The fact that these operations represent two co pled circuits introduces characteristics into their de- sign procedure that do not arise in systems having only a single cirvuit of equilibrium states. ELRifai and Ettouncy (1999) studied the d tercurrent cascades coupled by a single solvent be- tween the cascades with constant slopes of the ‘operating and equilibrium lines. In their work, a ‘method is developed for obtaining optimum recircu- lation of the solvent and an optimnal number of stages, im each eascade. More recently, the same authors (E1- Rifai and Etouney, 2002) extended their work to include two independent solvent circulation loops. In various operations encountered in hydrometallurgy, however, linear equilibrium relationships are atypical, and countereurent cascades aro not used. Instead, sn of 180 coun20 ED. Gives era cirouits are used that employ other flow configura- tions sucl as aqueous and solvent bypass oF interme- diate solvent recycle. Moreover, optimum operation depends not only onthe extraction and stripping steps but also on the costs of the upstream steps, such as leaching, and the downstream steps, such as electto- ‘winning. Furthermore, the extraction percentage may not be the most important factor but rather the total production capacity, given that material not extracted js rooyeled to the circuits. Design of these circuits using standard MeCabe—Thiele diagrams bas some drawbacks including: (a) each circuit wall have differ: cat operating lines; (b the concentration ranges ofthe extraction and stripping steps may differ very widely to proseat them ina single diagram: and (c) iterations will normally be required to determine the various concentrations. Cistemas and Gilvez (2000) devel- oped a representation of the problem by means of supersiucturs, wif one superstracture for the aque- ous streams and another for the organic streams, in ‘whic all types of configurations are permitted. How- ever, the mathematical representation of the problem contains numerous bilinearties that make it difficult to solve, More recently, in a similar study (Alonso et Fialomeralang 14 (2008) 19-38 al,, 2001), linearizations of the bilinear terms were ised, employing formulations with binary variables Although this formulation is simpler to solve than the previous one, it imposes limitations in the model, and the mathematical programming problem requires algorithms which are not commercially available, The present study presents a simple graphical representation that provides a way to develop prelim- inary designs of solvent extraction circuits foc hydro- ‘metallurgy. Here, the graphical representation is developed, several examples of cireuis are presented, and its use in determining the various stage compo: sitions is illustrated, 2, Developm nt of the graphical represen to In overview, hydrometallurgical solvent extraction circuits (Fig, 1) are comprised as follows: A Teaching step extracts the metal from the mineral, producing the electrolytic leachate solution {generally known as the pregnant leach solution (PLS)]. This is fed into the solvent extraction steps where the metal is extracted by the stripped organic, The discharged aqueous tracusa = fe ms attnate SOLVENT EXTRACTION crcurr Toads J t organic >{ stRurrinc cor kK strong Spent xectroite ateetrtte >| RecorERATION STEP Fi. 1. Typiea! tomerslugieal solvent extraction eitcaitED Gite solution, known as raffinate, is recirculated to the Teaching step. Elsewhere, the loaded organic is fed into the stripping steps where the metal is extracted by the spent electrolyte. The resulting strong electrolyte is sent to the metal recuperation step which could be fan electrowinning operation or apother operation such s erystallization, The solvent extraction and stripping steps are frequently carried out at industrial scale with mixer-settlers. As the name suggests, this equipment includes a mixer to disperse one phase into the other to provide interfacial comtact for mass transfer, fol lowed by # decanter to allow the phases to coalesce and separate ‘The extraction and stripping steps depend on the kinetics of mass transfer, and, typically, the extrac~ tion efficiency is accounted for by the use of apparent equilibrium curves. These curves must be experimentally determined. Fig, 2 shows typical ‘equilibrium curves for the hydrometallurgical process of copper extraction. It may be observed from these that while the agueous copper concentrations in the extraction range below 8 g/L, in the stripping steps they would range up 10 50 g/l. This magnitude difference makes the graphical representation of the steps awkward ‘Consider as an example the circuit of the lower diagram of Fig. 3 for the extraction of copper, formed | 7 1 a 7 Hydrometlingy 74 2004) 19-38 a by one extraction step and one stripping step. The PLS concentration is 5.9 g/l. (x=5.9), while the desired concentration of the strong electrolyte is 45 wl (1=45). The material balance in the extraction step is given by Eq, (1), while the stripping step balance is given by Eq, (2). Both balances assume that the densities of the solutions are constant. 0 —F1) = Al —) a Oly ~ 31) = Ole — 2) @ In these equations, 0 is the volumetic flow of rani solvent i the aqueous volumetic Now in the extaction scp: and Q i the aqueous volumetic flow inthe supp step. The mas concentrations of tole re given by x forthe ausous phase i he Extaction sep. and 9 forthe oreane phase in the Ccuaction and siping stops, espectvly and ¢ for the aqueous siping phase. The representation of this proces in Fig is dificult du to the range of ncentatons that rust be incuded in the diagram The extction and stopping steps will also. have Gifering ratios of ageousorganic flow, complicating the execution ofthe heratve design procedure. these difcliss ae improved by employ new eoncentation coordinate # fr the agueots sp (ee Metal Concentration in Organic Solution, (y) 0 10 20 ? tion Appatent | — | ot Savini Cre 54— : ae 4 —__f 3 ———— Stripping Apparent at Paquilibrivi Curve 30 0 20 eo ‘Metal Concentration in Aqueous Solution, (42) Fig. 2. Extraction and sipping apres equillrium curves, Metal concentaton in g Cu of sltion. Data was taken. from Aguire and onesies (1998,2 ED. Gales etal. /Hsarom 9 8 7 6 Motal Concentration, Organic Phase altosy 74 20089 19-38 "Metal Concentration, Aqueous Phase ueacuinc — fe Ps Ratfinate >| SOLVENT EXTRACTION STAGE le Loaded Stripped organic “organic nam ; STRIPPING STAGH : \« Spent clectreyte p| RECUPERATION STEP. Fig. 3. 1E~11 cuit boston) an represen ping phase, such that, on the one hand, the operating lines of both the extraction and stripping steps will have the same slope, that is, Om ~H) and, on the other hand, the concentration ranges will be of the same magnitude, One option, used in this study, is to make the two maximum concentrations ‘equivalent, that is, £)= x9. Matching Eqs. (2) and (3), om in (59 vers (2) dlageam (above) and employing the previous decisi relation is obtained: 2 4 the following o a (F A generalization of Eg, (4) allows any coordinate 2,10 be transformed into the new coordinate z, The values 4 (the highest concentration in the aqueous phase of the extraction stages) and ¢,, (the highest concentra (4)ED, Giles esa. /Brdrometa tion in the aqueous phase of the stripping stages) are selected as references and become coincident. These concentrations represent the concentration of the s0= lution obtained from leaching, and the coneentsation desired for the recuperation step (see Fig. 1). The ‘coordinate transformation equation is: 2, (2 Fig. 4 shows the same apparent equilibrium curves as in Fig. 2, with the extaction apparent oqiibrium () hay 76 2000) 19678 curve modified aceording to Eq. (5) with x Zu =45. Various Q/A ratios have been included, The upper diagram of Fig. 4 may be used to design coupled extraction and stripping circuits using equa- tions similar to Eqs. (1) and (3). The lower diagraan of Fig. 4 allows rapid conversion from coordinate # to coordinate 2 The upper part of Fig. 3 shows the representation of the circuit of the lower part of Fig, 3 im the diggram of (y47) versus (x2). The stage operating lines of the extraction and stripping stazes are Ex Et ‘raction Apparent alsin Curve Modifies + Eqailib St ripping Apparent Car Metal Concentration, Organic Phase 3 4042 st Stripping Equiliri Metal Concentration, Aqueous phase 4 67 5 Appanent | um Cvs Metal Concentration, 2a ED. Giese a. Hydrometalags 74 (2008) 19-38 represented by fine AB. Ratios 4/0=Q/4=} were used. In this representation, the aqueous PLS is fed to the extraction stage at concentration x9, and the aqueous raffinate has concentration xy. The aqueous -spent electrolyte enters the stripping stage at trans- formed a jon % (which is equal 10 x) and leaves the plant at transformed congentration 2 (owhich is equal to x). Tho organic phase is fed into the extraction stage at concentration ys (which is equal to J;) and is withdrawn st concentration 9, (which is equal to 4), Because of the new coordi- nate, the operating lines for both the stripping and the extraction stages coincide, with a slope equal to the aqueous extraction flow rate divided by the ‘organic flow rate ‘The coordinate trnsformation [Eq. (5)} comers another important and very convenient property ‘When more than one stage is employed in either of the extraction or stripping cireuits, a general countercurrent flow pattem will exist between the aqueous and organic flows between the stages. A ‘mass balance may be constnicted around any enve- lope containing a group of consecutive stages in one of the circuits. With the stages depicted horizontally (see Fig. 10 for example), the streams in the mass balance are exactly those aqueous and organic streams that pass rough the left- and right-hand sides of the envelope, Let the extraction stages be numbered from 1 t nm, where the PLS feed at enters stage 1, and let the stripping stages be ‘numbered from 1 tom, where the richest organic stream enters stage m at concentration f),.. and the spent electrolyte enters stage | at Zp. If the left-hand side of the envelope is chosen to cross the lef-end aqueous and organic streams at highest concentra. tions (X91) OF (ne +)y then these mass balances are of the form Olviss — 91) = AG — 20) (6) O@ ~ Fst) = AG-1 Fn) a Because yp, )=), and Sy=2o. the two lines de- scribed by Eqs. (6) and (7) coincide. The resulting countercurrent operating line can be used in the manner of the MeCabe-Thicle method to construct 4 representation of the extraction and strippi stages. The unified operating line conveniently ma ages the interdependence of the two groups of stages. Countercurrent cascades are easily *stepped= off”, and circuits with more general flow patterns may be constructed using the procedures described below. 3. Circuit representation In order to develop multistage circuits, some iteration may be necessary to determine the con: ccontrations and flows required to carry out a given metal extraction. The concentration, x9, obtainable from leaching is considered as known, along with the concentration, z_, desired from the metal Recovery step. Assume at this point that the ratio QlA is also known. Using these parameters, a diagram can be constucted of (43) versus ( in which the extraction and stripping circuits can be represented. Again, consider the scheme presented in Fig. | There are m solvent extraction stages and m stripping circuit stages. Tt is important t9 remember that the values of 2,, and 2p are equal, as a consequence of Eq. (5). The amount of metal Mf extracted int the leaching stage is equal to the quantity of metal recovered in the recovery stage, that is: M = Aly — x) = Ou s) Ifthe values for z are replaced by equivalent values 2 via Eq, (5), then Eq. (8) produces: M = Alby — 20) 0) By comparing Eqs. (8) and (9) and considering that % itis then clear also that %=x,, Consoquently, the endpoints of the unified operatin Dy Gp =Zoutn e1=P1) and (8o= 2.9 Fee Cirenits are represented in the diagram by deter mining for each extraction and stripping stage the positions of its equilibrium point and its two feed points. The equilibrium point (x,3:) or Gy) lies ‘on the appropriate apparent equilibrium curve and corresponds fo the compositions of the pair of Tine are giveED, Gale eal. /Hpdometalurgy 74 (20045 19-18 2s streams exiting the slage (e.g, point | in Fig. 5), The feed points are located on the countercurrent operating line (6,7) which has a slope of 4/0 at the composition values yy and yey oF 35 and Jivy Horizontal and vertical lines connect. each wage feed point with two equilibrium points, the feed point’s source stage and the stage being fed (ee Fig. 5). The operating line is fixed by the selection of three jore degrees of freedom. These are in addition to xy and zp, which are specified in order to use the coordinate transformation [Fq. (5)]. Therefore, for a specified x,, fixing the numbers of stages, m and m, determines the operating line, and the required flow- rate, 0, of the organic stream is obtained from its resulting slope. Alternatively, the values of 4/0, n and ‘m can be specified, and then a resulting. value for x, and 2) is determined ‘The diagram offers an immediate indication of the range of organic flowrates which are feasible for 2 given % and x,. The two fines constructed as shown in Fig. 6 comespond to the limiting cases for nso and m+ co, The slopes of these two lines give bounds (4/O)min(A!Olme om the feasible flowrates. In general, there can be both a ‘maximum and @ minimum limit for the organic flow. For countercurrent flow patterns, the familie eas. ‘cade “staircase” pattem is traversed on cach side of the operating line. However, other general flow pat- tems are represented as easily by locating the stage feed points accordingly. In cases where a feed isto be mixed ffom two source streams, the feed point ean be located on a mixing tie line between the source streams, With sclected values for n and m, the endpoints of the operating line are located by iteration, In order to use the coordinate transformation, xp, Z9 and Q/A must be specified. The process for con- structing the diagram in the basic case is as follows: 3.1. Basie procedure (x, given): (see Fig. $) 1, Estimates are made of J; and y1, and the operating line is drawn through these values Fig. 5, Unified operating line with extmcton aa siping stages,ED. Gives eal /Boabometaturgs 74 (2004) 19-38 Fig. 6, Feasible mage fo Now ratio 410 ‘The m extraction stages are “stepped-off” begin- fing at (2. y4) and working Pack to xq, Anew estimate of fis obvained. ‘The m stripping stages are “stepped-off” beginning At (Eqn) and working back fo 2. A new estimate of y; is obtained 4.1, 2 and 3 are repeated as needed to convergence. 2. Basie procedure (A/0 given): (see Fig. 5) 1, An estimate is made of y;=Fy+4, and the operating line is drawn through this endpoint with slope 4/0. ‘The m stripping stages are “steppedd-off” beginning at (yy) nd Working back to Zy, An estimate of Xi 18 obtained, 3. The m extraction stages ure “‘stepped-oft™ begin sing at (ry.¥,) and working back to xo. A new estimate of pis obtained 4.1, 2 and 3 are repeated as needed to convergence. 3.3. Procedure for bypass cases Sometimes it can be advantageous to bypass some of the total aqueous or organic flow around fone or more of the stages. The object is usually to reduce the mass joad in the stage(s), When the ‘wo cquilibrium fines have significantly differing slopes, this technique can sometimes be employed ‘without requiring an increase in the total number of stages. ‘The graphical representation of bypass cases is accomplished by constructing an additional operat- ing lime segment for the stages that are bypassed, Fig. 7a—d illustrate schematically the four cases of aqucouslorganic bypassing for extractionstripping stages. The operating line segment for the bypassed stages intersects the main operating line at the point “A” where the bypassing flow branches away fom the stage flow: Relative to the main operating line, the slope of the segment is increased by organicED. Gites eal /Hydrometalbgy 74 (2004) 1-38 ” (a) Extraction ~ Organic Bypass Og ae OF (b) Extrwction ~ Aqueous Bypass (©) Steipping — Organic Bypass ‘ € leap! ' () Stripping ~ Aqueous Bypass (Ong Oe Fig. 7 (9) Exteton ganic bypass (5) Fastin aqueous bypass. (6) Supping cxzaic bypass. (Srp squems bypass28 ED. Giese: ab. /Usdvometagy 74 20043 19-18 bypassing and reduced by aqueous bypassing and is given accordingly by the value of (4/0), selected for the bypassed stages. The line segment ends at the composition of the stage outlet flow (") that will be recombined with the bypassed flow (“C”), For organic bypassing, the recombination of the two flows is given by a vertical mixing line constructed between the segment endpoint and a point located at the bypass flow composition. For aqueous bypassing, the mixing line is horizontal The intersection “D" of the mixing line with the ‘main operating line gives the recombination point from which further stages may be continued. 3.4. Procedure for intermediate recycles Jn a number of situations, it is advantageous to Teeycle the organic from an intermediate stripping stage to an intermediate extraction stage and vice versa. For example, this may enable reduction of the number of stages needed in the circuit, or may provide mote flexibility of plant operation (White, 1988). Furthermore, when the two equi- librium lines have significantly differing slopes, this technique may again allow a decrease in stage ‘mass loads without increasing the total number of stages, g i ; : feo ane i a | é = sete | ~ i on sage to a fermi sping SseBD, Galo al. Hydrometalungy 742004) 10-28 2» Intermediate recycles are represented in the dia- gram by dividing the main operating line into ‘connected segments of different slopes, The slope of cach segment is given by the value of A/O, determined by the organic flowrate through the extraction and stripping stages of the segment, Fig. 8a illustrates recycle from an_ intermediate Sicipping stage to un intermediate extraction stage ‘The operating line is formed by two segments Joined at point “4. Fig. Sb represents the case when the reeyele is from extraction stages to stripping stages 4. Examples The following series of examples serve to demon- strate the application of the (3,7) versus (x2) diagram, For the examples, =» =45 gL, x=5.9 pL, QlA=I. and AYO~ 1 41. 2E-1S circuit ‘This example was studied in Fig, 3. The cirouit is composed of one extraction slage and one stripping stage, that is, a=1 and mI. The iterative provedure is easy to do because 1 (and y>) is known beeause 2) is in apparent equilibrium with J, If'xz were known, ten there would be no need to iterate because it isin apparent equilibrium with y) 42. 2E~I8 circuit This example demonstrates a circuit composed of ‘wo extraction stages and one stripping stage, n=2 and m=. The circuit is presented in Fig, 9, In this case, VO is given, So the iterative procedure is as follows: An estimate is made of y, (which is equal to Ys), and, as 29 (and £1) is known, we can plot point (1.%0). Then, an operating line is drawn chrough this endpoint with slope 4/O. The stripping stage is drawn easily because 2; is in apparent equilibrium with yi, whose intersection with the operating line allows the determination of % (which is equal to x2) ‘Then, the two extraction stages are “stepped-of!” beginning at (x,y) and working back 10 %y. A new estimate of yr is obtained. These steps are repeated until convergence, 43. 2E-28 cirenit This example demonstrates a cicnit composed of ‘wo extraction stages and two stripping stages, and m=2. The circuit is presented in Fig, 10, In this case, the iterative procedure is similar to the previous ‘example, but now the determination of 2 (Which is equal to x;) is accomplished after stepping-off two stages. 4.4, 2-28 dual circuit ‘This example demonstrates 2 circuit composed of two extraction stages and two stripping stages, n=2 and m2, but using a dual configuration (two independent solvent loops). The cireuit is presented in Fig. 11. In this case, the iterative procedure is similar to 1B—1S system, but now estimation of y; and py is required because there are two coupled cascades in series which can be solved sequentially. 45. IB-28 circuit ‘This example demonstrates a circuit composed of fone extraction stage and two stripping stages, n- 1 and m=2. The circuit is presented in Fig, 12. la this cease, the iterative procedure is similar to the previous examples, 46. 1E-38 circuit ‘This cxample demonstrates a circuit composed of fone extraction and three stripping stages, a~1 and m~3, The circuit is presented in Fig. 13. In this ease, the iterative procedure is similar to the previous ‘examples, but three stages must be stepped-off in the stripping cascade. 4.7. 2E-28 circuit with intermediate recycle ‘This example demonstrates cireuit composed of two extraction stages and two stripping stages, n=2 and m=2, but with an intermediate recycle of the organic solvent between the extraction and stripping cascades. The circuit is presented in Fig, 14. In this case, AIO values are given, and they change such that the ratio is higher in the secondso ED Gites oak /Hyivometalingy 74 (2908) 19-38 6 i i g 2 Metal Concentration, Aqueous Pho LEACHING +— Ratfinate rs 2 SOLVENT >) extrac. 1 one re Senet — organic mh i >| nah STRIPPING 1 j+— Strong Spent ectroyte cleetralyte Fig 9.2 agi (ove) extzactionfrst stripping stages than im the first lows: An estimate is made of y, (which is equal to cxtractionsecond stripping stayes. Furthermore, the $4), and, as % (and %) is known, we can plot 4/0 ratio is equal in the second extraction/fist point (34,39). Then, an operating line is drown Stripping stages and in the first exiraction/second through this endpoint with slope (4/OY —the ratio cedure is as fol- in the first extract stripping stages. The iterative pro niseeond stripping stages. TheED. Giles etal /Hyebomealory 24 2008) 19 10 29 zs 2 a7 g é 6 _ a 53 32 ay ° etal Concentration, Aqueous Phase LEACHING, — ns souverr | x, | soLveNt Ly} extrac. BD] EXTRAC, 1 2 I aa Soaded organic sm. sre, STAGE >) STAGE 2 fer Strong stectrotyte —»| RECUPERATION STEP Raftinate Stripped organic Fig 10. 2-22 circuit (boom) snd repetentatin in (9) versus (2 dagram above2 ED Gilbert Metal Concentration, Organic Phase ( Hpdrometallargy 76 (2008) 1-38 a4 + Motal Concentration, Aqueous Phase LEACHING + PLS SOLVENT. 214] souvent EXTRAC. r EXTRAC, 2 STAGE, >| je Loaded organic men Ly] srr. sre. + STAGE z aera Strong lectrlyte | RECUPERATION Raffinate Stripped ean wen Spent ectrayte STEP Fig 11, 26-26 dal ici (baton) and representation ia (39) ves (2) aga (shove) second stripping stage is drawn easily because 2, of point (92,1) Then, the second operating line is im apparent equilibeium with fa; this allows the determination of #. Next, the first extraction stage is drawn from y; 10 determine the values is drawn through this endpoint with slope (4/0)'— the ratio in the second extraction/first stripping stages. The first stripping stage is drawn fromConcetration, Organic Phase BD. Gates etal. /Hsdrometatgy 74 2004) 1938 Metal Concentration, Aqueous Phase LEACHING le— rus SOLVENT >] extraction STAGE — Loaled nab . | sme. —p} STAGE It Tike Strong & toctroiyte & RECUPERATION — STEP Rattinate Stripped ‘organic nom Spent clectrelyte Fig 12. IE-2E cient (otiom) and epresetaio is (3,5) verses 2.2) diagram (above.u ED Gites otal /Hyrometalery 74 2003) 19-38 ‘Metal Concentration, Organic Phase 2 3 4 58 6 7 8B Metal Concentration, Aqueous Phase LEACHING +—_ atfinate PLS = SOLVENT >| extraction = [7 STAGE i Stripped organic sour. || stem. [| srr. STAGE [>] stace PP] stace S fe? het pe Strong : Spent electrolyte clectrotyte | RECUPERATION ster Fig 13. 1E-3E ci oom) and epresemation in 7) vers (2 diagram (above),al (Hpibomeullargy 74 (2008) 19-38 Metal Concentration, Organic Phase Metal Concentration, Aqueous Phase LEACHING }+— pus Ratfinate souvent |__2_ I souvent >) extrac, >| extrac, 1 2 Stripped organic Loaded organic n= nh sma. sai, PH stace >} STAGE > es fy strong Spent eotrlyte lectrolyte RECUPERATION L—»| STEP E~2E ete wih ines reeyce(botom) and representation in (9 vs (8) Sgr (above) | on the second operating line to determine % and working back to xq. A new estimate of yy is which provides a value for x3. Then, the two obtained. The procedure is repeated as needed to extraction stages are stepped off beginning at x; convergence.6 ED. Gales etal /Hyarometatasy 74 (2008) 19-38 48, 2B-18 circuit with cascade ‘m= 1, but this case has 2 cascade configuration for the aqueous flows associated with the extraction steps. ‘This example demonstrates a cireuit composed of The circuit is presented in Fig, 15. In this example, itis ‘wo extraction stages and two stripping stage, n=2and unnecessary to iterate to determine the various com- Metal Concentration, Organie Phase otal Concentration, Aqueous Phase LEACHING — SOLVENT SOLVENT >] exmeac. [, extrac. [ 1 2 Loadee Stripped organic ” ivy co organic a Lp sremrnestacr |g Strong Spent tectralye electrolyte RECUPERATION STEP. Fig, 15-21-18 east with cascade (ots) ard repesentton in (3) vers (8) agra aboveED Giher ea! positions. Fig, 15 is constructed for the case where the aqueous flows A in cach extraction step are made equal 5, Remarks and conclusions ‘The ratios between aqueous and organic flows are generally limited by the requirements to maintain che ‘continuity of the desired phase during operation, the characteristics of dispersion and coaloscence, the ‘Metal Concentration, Organic Phase Hodronetal ty 4 2004) 19-98 ” level of purity of the desired product, and the capacity and percentage of extraction desized. How- ever, it is possible to use the graphical representation presented to carry out the analysis of the effect of these ratios on the percentage of metal extracted and the capacity of the cireuits, For example, Fig, 16 shows the IE~1$ circuit for different ratios of 4/0 and QI. It can be observed that a decrease in the O ratio produces an inctease in the percentage of ‘metal exiracted but at the same time increases the size of the equipment for the same flow rate of A. i | averse ete Metal Concentfation, Aqueous phase os Metal Concentration, 2 Fig. 16, Etc of 410 and O14 eats on 1E—1F ict38 ED, Gales etal /Hydvomctallorgy 74 (2004) 19-38 On the other hand, a decline in the Q/A ratio produces a reduction in the concentration of spent electrolyte, as shown in Fig. 16, for the case where A1O=2 In the examples studied, it can be seen that the umber of extraction stages has a greater influence on the percentage of metal extraction (%E}) than does the number of stripping stages. For example, the 1E—1$ cirouit has a %E of 87%, compared to the %E of 97% for the 2E—1$ citeuit. This later value is maintained practically constant when a stripping stage is added (QE-2S cireuit). On the other hand, the TE-28 and IES circuits show values for %# of 90% and 91%, respectively, which confirms the preceding statement, By observing the 2-28, dual 22-28, and 26-25 with bypass circuits, similar values for %E can be observed. The dual circuit, however, permits the flexibility of using different 4/0 ratios in each stage, through which itis possible wo raise the %E. Finally, the 2E-1$ circuit (%9E=97%) can be compared with the 2E-18 circuit with cascade (%E= 58%). The latter, although having a significantly lower percent- age extraction, has a greater capacity for the extraction ‘of copper (6.8 g/L of aqueous solution fed to the solvent extraction stages compared with 5.2 g/L. for the case without the cascade), ‘The graphical representation shown ean be utilized for the study of different configurations of solvent extraction and stripping circuits, coupled by a com- mon solvent. It provides a rapid and simple way of ‘determining the various stage compositions and there by of obreining materiat balances. Analysis of the effects of using different ratios between the aqueous and organic phases can also be performed. List of symbols A Aqueous volumetric flow in extraction stages M Amount of metal extracted in the leaching step and recavered in the recovery step Organic volumetric flow. Aqueous volumetic flow in stripping stages Metal concentration in the aqueous phase ia extraction stages (x: PLS concentration; x, raffinate concentration ~8 Y Metal concentration in the organic phase in extraction stages (9; loaded organie concen- trations x 1 sipped organic concentration) Metal concentration in the organic phase in stripping stages (¥ > loaded organic con- centration; y: stripped organic concentration) 2 Metal concentration in the aqueous phase in stripping stages (zo: spent electrolyte concen. tration; 24: strong electrolyte concentration) Transformed metal concentration coordinate fn the aqueous phase in séripping stages Gc: spent electrolyte concentration coordi- hale, Jy: strong electrolyte concentration coordinate) Acknowledgements ‘The authors wish to thank CONICYT for financing of FONDECYT PROJECT # 1990956 of which the present study is a part. References ‘Alonso, A.C, Lasskn, A, Gr, ., 2001. Opimal design of now ispesive solvent existion proceses. Comput Chem. Eg, 67285, 1.6, Gonvilee, MW, 1998. Evan y contol de planta semi indus de extaccion por solvents de Miners Escondids. Be thesis, Universidad Catia del None, Cisteroas, LA, Glver, ED. 2000. Syntbesis of solvent exrastion sn Hyeromealtgy To: Pieri, SE). ESCAPE-I0. Ekevier EPRifn MA, Bouncy, RS, 1999 nega acalyss of coupled ‘separation operons, Chem. Eng. Set. $4, 1881-1902 ELRiti, MA, Etoane, RS, 2002, Integated design of coxpled sepuntionpracesses with adpendent solvent ebeution ops Chem. Bog. Sei 57. 651-861 Gupa, CXC, Mateos, TK, 1990 Hydzomeangy in Extraction Processes CRC Pres. Haba, F, 1993, A Textbook of Hydrometargy Métllurgie Buacve Quabec, Ear Rydberg J, Musas, C hopin, GR, 1992, Principles and White, DA, 19K Solvent extastion for mel yeoyery incorpo ‘alag onan aquest ae bypass, Hydomealugy 2 ‘ata: E aL