Membrane-Based Solvent Extraction

TLDR: A mixer-settler arrangement provides a single equilibrium stage; a number of them connected together provide multistage extraction as mentioned in this paper, which creates a large interfacial area and increases the extraction rate considerably.

Abstract: Solvent extraction is a common industrially used equilibrium-based separation process. In such a process, a solute (or solutes) in a solution, aqueous or organic, is extracted into an immiscible solvent, organic or aqueous, by dispersing one of the immiscible phases as drops in the other phase. This creates a large interfacial area and increases the extraction rate considerably. After the extraction is over, the phases are separated and the dispersed phase coalesced. There are two general categories of equipment for solvent extraction. A mixer-settler arrangement provides a single equilibrium stage; a number of them connected together provide multistage extraction. Continuous countercurrent contacting equipment whether in the form of columns or centrifugal devices can generate the equivalent of many stages in one device (Treybal 1963).