SEPARATION PROCESSES SPC 720S

LECTURE 3B

Co-current, Immiscible Solvent Extraction

Co-current, Immiscible Solvent Extraction
Co-current, Immiscible Solvent Extraction

Worked Example 1
 Co-current, Immiscible Solvent Extraction
• Partition (K, K’D ) or Distribution ratio (D)
K’D = 𝑫 = (𝑤−𝑤 1 )/𝑉𝑂
𝑤 /𝑉
(1)
1 𝐴

K’D = D = XE /XR = [Solute]OS/[Solute]R

D = Mass fraction of solute in solvent, y/ Mass fraction solute in raffinate, x

w = initial mass of solute in aqueous Feed phase
w1= final mass of solute in aqueous phase (Raffinate)
Vo = volume organic oil phase (Extractant solvent)
VA = volume aqueous phase (Feed)
𝒘𝟏 𝑽𝑨 𝟏
= = (2)
𝒘 𝑽𝑶 𝑫+𝑽𝑨 𝟏+𝑫(𝑽𝑶 ⁄𝑽𝑨 )

• Final solute mass in tank

1
𝑤1 = 𝑤( ) (3)
1+𝐷(𝑉𝑂 ⁄𝑉𝐴 )

• % extraction in a single tank

(𝑤 − 𝑤1 ) × 100
% 𝐸𝑥𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 =
𝑤
𝑤1
= (1 − ) × 100 (4)
𝑤
• For n tanks in series (n = Equilibrium stages), the final mass of solute wn in the
aqueous phase of the nth tank
𝟏 𝒏
𝒘𝒏 = 𝒘( ) (5)
𝟏+𝑫(𝑽𝑶 ⁄𝑽𝑨 )

• Ultimate % extraction in the nth tank

(𝒘− 𝒘𝒏 )×𝟏𝟎𝟎
% 𝑬𝒙𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 = (6)
𝒘
 Worked Example 2

Consider a steady state, co-current solvent extraction process

separating zinc ions from a pregnant aqueous leach solution. The
distribution ratio (D) for Zn2+ SX is 10. The volumes of the organic
solvent and aqueous feed phases are 10 litres each. How many
tanks (stages) would be required to achieve 99% extraction of
Zn2+ions?
 Worked Example 2
Solution:

Basis w = 100 g, hence Wn = 1 g.

From Eq. 5,
𝟏 𝒏
𝒘𝒏 = 𝒘( ) (5)
𝟏+𝑫(𝑽𝑶 ⁄𝑽𝑨 )
Thus
𝒘𝒏
⁄𝒘 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟏 = (𝟏 𝒏
⁄(𝟏 + 𝟏𝟎))
n = (log 0.01)/log (1/11)
n = 1.92. (first estimate)

Since has to a whole number, we fix n as 2, the

nearest integer.
With n = 2, we recalculate the overall %
extraction as 99.2 % using Equation 5
 Example 3
Consider a steady state, co-current solvent extraction process
separating zinc ions from a pregnant leach solution.
Data
Initial concentration of Zn solute in aqueous feed phase C = 3 g/l
Final concentration of Zn2+ solute in aqueous raffinate phase Cn = 1 g/l
Final concentration of Zn2+ solute in the organic extractant Cos = 10 g/l
volume organic oil phase Vo = =1 litre
volume aqueous phase VA = 5 litres
Determine:
1. The distribution ratio
2. The percent extraction
3. The number of stages of solvent extraction to achieve 99.5%
extraction
 Example 3 Ans

(𝑤−𝑤1)/𝑉𝑂
1. D=? 𝑤1 /𝑉𝐴
(= K’D)

2. % extraction. = ?

(𝒘 − 𝒘𝟏 ) × 𝟏𝟎𝟎
% 𝑬𝒙𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 =
𝒘
𝒘𝟏
= (𝟏 − )× 𝟏𝟎𝟎 (4)
𝒘

3. N = ? stages to give 99.6% recovery

𝟏 𝒏
𝒘𝒏 = 𝒘( ) (5)
𝟏+𝑫(𝑽𝑶 ⁄𝑽𝑨 )
 ANSWERS
1. D = 10

2. % extraction. = 66.7

3. N = 5 stages to give 99.6% recovery