Solid-Liquid Extraction

CHE135-1P: SEPARATION PROCESSES 1

 Outline

Representation of Equilibrium Stage

Mechanism
Equilibrium Data Model for Leaching

Learning Objectives
1. Explain the mechanism of Solid-Liquid Extraction
2. Perform equilibrium and material balance calculations for Liquid-Liquid
Extraction
3. Perform solid-liquid extraction calculations

CHE135-1P: SEPARATION PROCESSES 2

 Mechanism
Solid-Liquid Extraction (Leaching) The solute diffuses
from inside the solid
involves the removal of a soluble fraction (solute or leachant) of a
into the surrounding
solid material by a liquid solvent solvent.

Overflow Applications:
solvent + most • Removal of copper
of the solute
from ore using
sulfuric acid
• Extraction of sugar
beets using hot
water
Underflow Wash Stages • Recovery of proteins
solids wet with used to reduce the and other natural
almost pure solvent concentration of solute in the products from
liquid portion of the underflow bacterial cells

CHE135-1P: SEPARATION PROCESSES 3

 Representation of Equilibrium Data
Ponchon-Savarit Diagram Right Triangle Diagram

6 1

0.9
5
0.8
kg inert/kg soln

0.7
4
0.6
3 Xsolvent 0.5

0.4
2
0.3

1 0.2

0.1
0
0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1
kg solute / kg soln
Xsolute

CHE135-1P: SEPARATION PROCESSES 4

 Equilibrium Stage Model for Leaching
S Mass flow rate of inert solids
V Mass flow rate of entering
solvent or overflow liquid
L Mass flow rate of underflow
liquid
y Mass fraction of solute in the
overflow
x Mass fraction of solute in the
underflow
Assumptions:
• The solid feed consists of a solute that is completely If conditions of equilibrium are met, the
soluble in the solvent and an inert substance that is not. concentration of the solution leaving a stage is
• Leaching is rapid such that it is completed in a single the same as the concentration of the solution
leaching stage. adhering to the inerts. The equilibrium
• All overflow streams are assumed to be free of solids. relationship is, therefore, xe = ye.

CHE135-1P: SEPARATION PROCESSES 5

 Equilibrium Stage Model for Leaching
An ideal leaching or washing stage is one where:
Any entering solid solute is completely dissolved into the liquid in the
stage (assuming that the liquid contains sufficient solvent).
The composition of the liquid in the stage is uniform throughout,
including any liquid within pores of the inert solid.
Solute is not adsorbed on the surfaces of the inert solid.
The inert solids leaving in the underflow from each stage are wet with
liquid, such that the mass ratio of solvent in that liquid (or the total
liquid) to inert solids is constant from stage to stage.
Because the composition of the liquid in the stage is uniform
throughout, the concentration of solute in the overflow is equal to
that in the liquid portion of the underflow (equilibrium assumption).
Overflows contain no solids.
Solvent is not vaporized, adsorbed or crystallized in a stage.

CHE135-1P: SEPARATION PROCESSES 6

 Equilibrium Stage Model for Leaching
Graphical Solution Using Ponchon-Savarit Diagram

yN+1
Difference Point:
𝐼𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛: 𝐿0 𝑉𝐿 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐿𝑁 𝑉𝑁+1
yA3
XC,yc mass fraction solvent

yA2
yA1 From VL, draw a vertical line to the underflow locus:
𝑅1
xN 
xA3
xA2
Connect R1 and 
xA1
xA0 𝐼𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑢𝑠: 𝑉2

XA,yA mass fraction solute

CHE135-1P: SEPARATION PROCESSES 7

 Equilibrium Stage Model for Leaching
McCabe-Smith Graphical Solution

CHE135-1P: SEPARATION PROCESSES 8

 Equilibrium Stage Model for Leaching
McCabe-Smith Algebraic Solution

When the solution retained by the inerts is constant: When the solvent retained by the inerts is constant:

𝑥𝑁 − 𝑦𝑁+1 𝑋𝑁 − 𝑌𝑁+1
log 𝑦 − 𝑦 log 𝑌 − 𝑌
𝐿 1 𝐿 1
𝑁= 𝑁=
𝑦1 − 𝑦𝑁+1 𝑌1 − 𝑌𝑁+1
log 𝑦 − 𝑥 log 𝑌 − 𝑋
𝐿 𝑁 𝐿 𝑁
use mass fractions and total liquid flow rates use mass ratios and solute-free solvent flow rates

CHE135-1P: SEPARATION PROCESSES 9

 SOLID – LIQUID EXTRACTION
What is Solid-Liquid Extraction or Leaching?
•In Leaching, solute from solids is extracted using liquid solvent.
•for example, oil is extracted from groundnuts using hexane as solvent and sugar from sugar beets using hot water as solvent.

Factor affecting Solid-Liquid Extraction or Leaching?

1.Particle Size :-
•If particle size is smaller, contact area is larger and extraction is more.
•If particle size is bigger, contact area is smaller and extraction is less.
•On other hand, If particle size is very fine than particular size can cause low rate of extraction
2.Solvent :-
•Solvent selection matters most in leaching.
•Solvent should less viscous to flow freely to have sufficient contact time and area with solid.
•Initially solubility solvent with solute is more ,but after some time solvent will slowly reach saturation point (i.e. Maximum Solubili
of solute in solvent ) and extraction will decrease with time and subsequently solvent become more viscous.
3.Temperature :-
•Solubility increases with increase in temperature.
•Diffusion rate is increases with increase in temperature and this will also increase rate of extraction.
4.Agitation of Liquid :-
•Agitation cause eddy diffusion and eddy diffusion is useful in extraction.
•Agitation prevent sedimentation and that helps to increase contact time area with solvent.

CHE135-1P: SEPARATION PROCESSES 10

CHE135-1P: SEPARATION PROCESSES
 Solid-Liquid Extraction

CHE135-1P: SEPARATION PROCESSES