7.

3 LIQUID-LIQUID EXTRACTION CHAPTER 7

OBJECTIVES

Introduction to Extraction Processes

Equilibrium Relations in Extraction
Single- Stage Equilibrium Extraction
Equipment for Liquid-Liquid Extraction
Continuous Multistage Countercurrent Extraction
7.3.1 INTRODUCTION TO LIQUID-LIQUID
EXTRACTION

Liquid-liquid extraction (also known as solvent extraction)

involves the separation of the constituents (solutes) of a liquid
solution by contact with another insoluble liquid.
Solutes are separated based on their different solubilities in
different liquids. Separation is achieved when the substances
constituting the original solution is transferred from the original
solution to the other liquid solution.
 The extract: the solution containing the desired extracted solute
The raffinate: the residual feed solution from which solutes has
been removed.
The solvent: The liquid with which the feed is contacted.
The feed: The solution which is to be extracted.

RICH
Extract (solute _________) Solvent

Feed (containing solute) POOR

Raffinate (solute________)
• PRINCIPLE OF LIQUID-LIQUID
EXTRACTION

When Liquid-liquid
extraction is carried out
in a test tube or flask the
two immiscible phases
are shaken together to
allow molecules to
partition (dissolve) into
the preferred solvent
phase.
 APPLICATIONS OF LLE
Wastewater treatment
 organic pollutants from a highly salted waste stream into another
aqueous stream free of salts
Separation of metals
 Recovery of Zinc (and Copper) from Mine Waters

Food industry
 Decaffeination

Lube oil extraction

 Aromatics and unsaturated hydrocarbons ie. SO 2 and benzene extraction

Acetic acid extraction

 Manufacture of cellulose yields aqueous acetic acid

Pharmaceutical manufacturing
 Penicillin and vitamins extraction
From: Baird, Malcom “Handbook of Solvent Extraction”, 1982
 SOLVENT SELECTION
Solvent is the key to a successful separation by liquid-
liquid extraction.

Insolubility of the solvent

Recoverability of the solute from solvent

Density difference between liquid phases

Cost

Viscosity

Vapor pressure

Flammability

Toxicity
 EQUILIBRIUM RELATIONS IN
EXTRACTION
LLE system have 3 components, A ,B and C and 2 phases in equilibrium.
x A + xB + xC = 1
Total mass fraction = 1.0
• Equilateral triangular coordinates are often used to
represent the equilibrium data of a three component
system (3 axes)
 RIGHT-TRIANGLE PHASE
DIAGRAMS
Since triangular diagram, have some
disadvantages because of special
coordinates

Right triangle coordinates is more

useful method plotting the 3
components data.

Right triangle coordinates for

system acetic acid (A) – water (B) –
isopropyl ether solvent (C).
 • EQUIPMENT TYPES

As in the separation processes of distillation, the two phases in liquid-

liquid extraction must be brought into intimate contact with a high
degree of turbulence in order to obtain high mass-transfer rates.
Distillation: Rapid and easy because of the large difference indensity
(Vapor-Liquid).
Liquid extraction: Density difference between the two phases is not
large and separation is more difficult.
Liquid extraction equipment:
~Mixing by mechanical agitation
~Mixing by fluid flow themselves
Continuous multistage countercurrent extraction
Countercurrent process and overall balance

An overall mass balance: L0  V N 1  L N  V1  M 2.6

A balance on C: L0 xC 0  V N 1 y C N 1  LN xC N  V1 y C1  Mx C M 2.7

L0 xC 0  V N 1 y CN 1 LN xC N  V1 y C1 2.8
Combining 2.6 and 2.7 x CM  
L0  V N 1 LN  V1
L0 x A0  V N 1 y AN 1 L N x AN  V1 y A1
Balance on component A gives x AM   2.9
L0  V N 1 LN  V1
 TRY THIS!
Pure isopropyl ether at the rate of 600 kg/h is being used to extract an aqueous solution
of 200 kg/h containing 30 wt% acetic acid (A) by countercurrent multistage extraction.
The desired exit acetic acid concentration in the aqueous phase is 4%.
a) Identify the coordinate of solvent and solute at outlet phases. Then, calculate the
amount of extract and raffinate stream.
b) Calculate the number of stages

Table 1: A-B-C liquid-liquid equilibrium data

Raffinate Layer Extract Layer

(A) (B) (C) (A) (B) (C)
0 0.988 0.012 0 0.006 0.994
0.029 0.955 0.016 0.008 0.008 0.984
0.133 0.844 0.023 0.048 0.019 0.933
0.369 0.589 0.044 0.216 0.069 0.715
0.464 0.371 0.165 0.362 0.151 0.487
END..