INTRODUCTION

Liquid-liquid extraction, also known as solvent extraction and partitioning, is a method to

separate compounds based on their relative solubility in two different immiscible liquids, usually
water and anorganic solvent(propionic acid) as shown at the diamgram above. It is an extraction
of
asubstance
from
one
liquid phase
into another liquid phase. Liquidliquid extraction is a basic technique in chemical laboratories, where it is performed using a
separator funnel. This type of process is commonly performed after a chemical reaction as part of
thework-up. In other words, this is the separation of a substance from a mixture by preferentially
dissolving that substance in a suitable solvent. By this process a soluble compound is usually
separated from an insoluble compound.The basic principle behind extraction involves the
contacting of a solution with another solvent that is immiscible with the original. The solvent is
also soluble with a specific solute contained in the solution. Two phases are formed after the
addition of the solvent, due to the differences in densities. The solvent is chosen so that the solute
in the solution has more affinity toward the added solvent. Therefore mass transfer of the solute
from the solution to the solventoccurs. Further separation of the extracted solute and the solvent
will be necessary. However,these separation costs may be desirable in contrast to distillation and
other separation processes for situations where extraction is applicable. A general extraction
column has two input stream and two output streams.
The input streams consist of a solution feed at the top containing the solute to be extracted and a
solventfeed at the bottom which extracts the solute from the solution. The solvent containing the
extracted solute leaves the top of the column and is referred to as the extract stream. The solution
exits the bottom of the column containing only small amounts of solute and is known as the
raffinate. Further separation of the output streams may be required through other
separation processes

PROCESS PRINCIPLE
Extraction is a process that used to separate component. This process is based on the
chemical differences rather than differences in the properties. Liquid-liquid extraction is Liquidliquid extraction is based on the transfer of a solute substance from one liquid phase into another
liquid phase according to the solubility. Extraction becomes a very useful tool if you choose a
suitable extraction solvent.You can use extraction to separate a substance selectively from a
mixture, or to remove unwanted impurities from a solution Liquid-liquid extraction process has it
own basic principle which involve the contracting of solution with another solvent that is
immiscible with the original. The theory is well developed for the prediction of liquid-liquid
extraction column operations. When liquid-liquid extrection is performed, different phases form
the continuous phase and the dispersed phase. When an experiment is performed, the column
will be first filled with water. This is the continuous phase.
The success of this method depends upon the difference in solubility of a compound in
various solvents. For a given compound, solubility differences between solvents is quantified as
the "distribution coefficient. When a compound is shaken in a separatory funnel with two
immiscible solvents, the compound will distribute itself between the two solvents. Normally one
solvent is water and the other solvent is a water-immiscible organic solvent. Most organic
compounds are more soluble in organic solvents, while some organic compounds are more
soluble in water.
In this process when solvent (water) is mix together with a solution (organic
solvent/propanoic acid) and then allow them to separate into the extracted phace and raffinate
phase. The extract phase wil be the water and propanoic acid and the raffinate, organic solvent
with a trace of propanoic acid.
In dilute solutions at equilibrium, the concentration of the solute in the two phases is called the
distribution coefficient or distribution constant, K, which can be defined as the ratio of :

K=

concentration of solute the extract phase ,Y

concentrationof solutethe raffinate phase , X

TYPES OF EQUIPMENT
Types of
equipment

MixerSettler

Columns

Centrifugal
Contactors

Explanation
Mixer-settlers are used when a process requires longer
residence times and when the solutions are easily
separated by gravity. They require a large facility
footprint, but do not require much headspace, and need
limited remote maintenance capability for occasional
replacement of mixing motors.
There are two basic types of columns packed columns
and pulse columns with plates or trays. Packed columns
are filled with some type of packing material, such as
Raschig Rings, to create a tortuous path for the two
solutions as they flow through the column, ensuring that
the two phases are in constant contact. In a pulse column,
liquids are continuously fed to the column and flow
counter-currently, as is done with a packed column, but
mechanical energy is applied to pulse the liquids in the
column up and down.
Centrifugal contactors, like mixer-settlers, are discretestage units, providing one stage of extraction per unit and
are readily linked together as each rotor pumps separated
fluids to the next stage inlet in each direction

Diagram

APPLICATIONS IN INDUSTRY
1. Fermentation and Algae Broths (chemical process-biomass industry)
-Biofuels and chemicals produced by biological processes such as fermentation and algae
often require liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) as the first step in recovery and purification
-Solvent used such as 1-butanol from water using ionic liquids (lLs).

2. Acetic acid extraction (chemical process industry)

-Recovery of tightly hydrogen-bonded organics from water; such as formaldehyde,
formic acid and acetic acid.
A typical acetic acid extraction system is shown in the Process Flow Diagram below and
includes the extraction column, a steam stripper to recover solvent from the aqueous
effluent (raffinate), and a distillation column to generate the purified acid while also
recovering the solvent for recycle to the extraction column
-Solvents used for acetic acid recovery via liquid-liquid extraction are ethyl acetate,
isopropyl acetate, and MTBE.
3. Phenol from wastewater (steel industrys coking facilities)
-Removal of high boiling organics from wastewater; such as phenol, aniline and nitrated
aromatics.
-Acetone is frequently used since most phenol plants also have acetone production to
water and acrylic acid from wastewater with butanol.
4. Essential oil extraction (Distillation the plant material industry)
-Essential oil extraction; such as pharmaceuticals, flavors, fragrances and food products.
-Solvent such as hexane or supercritical carbon dioxide is used to extract the oils.

REFERENCES

W. McCabe, J. Smith, and P. Harriot, (2005). Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering,

7th ed. McGraw-Hill.

Liquid-liquid extraction, Formal Report, Thomas Salerno, (2008)

http://www.chromacademy.com/lms/sco59/Sample_Preparation_Liquid
Liquid_Extraction_Techniques.pdf