Abstract

GAMBARRA, M.M.P.; LIMA, C.C.  and  GOIS, L.M.N.. Separation efficiency in a sieve plates extractor. Lat. Am. appl. res. [online]. 2011, vol.41, n.3, pp.205-209. ISSN 0327-0793.

This work analyzes the separation efficiency data involving mass transfer between two immiscible liquid phases in a bench lab extractor without mechanical agitation. The experimental apparatus consisted in a cylindrical glass column containing perforated plates, operating in countercurrent mode. The experimental runs were developed by using butane-acetic acid-water system, following a factorial experimental design involving the variables: dispersed phase velocity, the continuous phase velocity and the number of stages (two and four plates). The collected acid acetic raffinate and extract was analysed by titration with sodium hydroxide. Separation efficiencies were estimated through Murphree (1925) and Kawase (1990) models. The results showed that the higher was the dispersed flow, higher was the separation efficiency. An opposite behavior was observed for the continuous phase flow effect. In relation to the number of plates, higher efficiencies were achieved for 4 plates arrangement. The results provided empirical equations to predict the extraction efficiency, which exhibited good correlation with experimental data.

Keywords : Liquid-Liquid Extraction; Efficiency; Mass Transfer.

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