EXTRACTION

Introduction
Extraction:

refers to an operation in which one or

more component of a liquid or a solid are
transferred to another liquid

When

liquid-liquid extraction is used, at least one

of the liquid components must be sufficiently
insoluble so that two liquid phases are formed
For example: the separation of certain
components of petroleum-based oils by the use
of acetone. If acetone is added to the oil, some
of the components of the oil dissolve in the
acetone solution, and the remainder of the oil
forms an immiscible (non-mixing) layer with the
acetone solution. These two layers can be
separated
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 The

transfer of material from one phase to

another takes place by diffusion

Diffusion

may here be defined as the

spontaneous intermingling of the particles
forming a solution.

For

example: when ammonia vapor is

absorbed in water, the ammonia molecules or
particles must diffuse through the gas to the
surface of the liquid water. These ammonia
molecules must then enter the liquid solution
and diffuse away from the water surface into
the main body of the liquid
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Liquid-liquid Extraction
Liquid-Liquid

extraction (LLE) is a mass

transfer operation in which a liquid solution
(the feed) is contacted with an immiscible or
nearly immiscible liquid (solvent) that exhibits
preferential affinity or selectivity towards one
or more of the components in the feed.

Two

streams result from this contact: the

extract, which is the solvent rich solution
containing the desired extracted solute, and
the raffinate, the residual feed solution
containing little solute.
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 LLE

is often used to separate two mutually soluble

liquids

third liquid (solvent), having a preferential

solubility for one of the components of the mixture,
must be added to the solution, and a separate liquid
phase must be formed

The

solvent takes up part of the components of the

original solution and forms an immiscible layer with
the remaining solution

The

solvent layer is called extract

The

remainder of the original solution (may contain

some of the solvent) is termed as raffinate
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 Factors

to be considered when optimizing the

design and operation of the extraction
processes.:
Solvent selection
Operating Conditions
Mode of Operation
Extractor Type
Design Criteria

Solvent selection
Solvents

differ in their extraction capabilities depending

on their own and the solutes chemical structure
identify the desired functional group(s) in the solvent
for any given solute

The

desired properties of solvents are a high

distribution coefficient, good selectivity towards
solute and little or no miscibility with feed solution.
Also, the solvent should be easily recoverable for
recycle.

Other

factors affecting solvent selection are boiling

point, density, interfacial tension, viscosity,
corrosiveness, flammability, toxicity, stability,
compatibility with product, availability and cost
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Operating conditions
Depending

on the nature of the extraction process, the

temperature, pH and residence time could have an effect
on the yield and selectivity

Other

parameters to be considered are selectivity, mutual

solubility, precipitation of solids and vapor pressure

The

pH becomes significant in metal and bio-extractions

In bio-extractions (e.g., Penicillin) and some
agrochemicals (e.g. Orthene), pH is maintained to
improve distribution coefficient and minimize
degradation of product
In metal extractions, kinetic considerations govern the
pH

Mode of operation
Extractors

can be operated in crosscurrent or countercurrent mode

Cross-current

Mainly used in low capacity multi-product batch

processes
Practical, economical and offers a great deal of
flexibility in washing and neutralization operations
Although operation in crosscurrent mode offers more
flexibility, it is not very desirable due to the high
solvent requirements and low extraction yields
Counter-current
For larger volume operation and more efficient use of
solvent
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Extractor type
Commercially

important extractors can be

classified into the following broad categories:
Mixer-settlers
usually a series of static or agitated mixers
interspersed with settling stages. These are
mostly used in the metal industry where
intense mixing and high residence time is
required by the reactive extraction processes
In batch mode of operation, these mixersettlers could be simple batch vessels where
feed and solvent are mixed and settled. This
operation is repeated with fresh solvent
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MIXER SETTLER

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 Centrifugal extractors
are high-speed rotary machines that offer
advantages of very low residence time
The number of stages in a centrifugal device
is usually limited to one, but currently
devices with multiple numbers of stages are
common
These extractors are mainly used in
pharmaceutical industry
Column contactors (static)
Column contactors (agitated)

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13

COLUMN CONTRACTOR

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KARR Column

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SCHEIBEL Column

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17

rotating-disk contacter
a. agitator; b. static disk

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 Factors

affecting the selection of extractors

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Design criteria
The

basic function of extraction equipment is to mix two

phases, form and maintain droplets of dispersed phase
and subsequently separate the phases

Mixing

The amount of mixing required is determined by

physical properties such as viscosity, interfacial
tension and density differences between the two
phases
In agitated batch extractors, the agitator design is
often optimized for reaction and heat transfer, not
extraction
Static extraction columns rely completely on the
packing/internals and fluid flow velocities past the
internals to create turbulence and droplets
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 Settling

The settling characteristics depend on the fluid

properties (density difference, interfacial tension, and
continuous phase viscosity) and the amount of mixing
Settling in agitated batch vessels is carried out by
stopping the agitator.
In continuous columns, a settling section is provided
either as a part of the extractor or as a separate
piece of equipment downstream of the extractor
Selection

of continuous and dispersed phases

In column extractors, the phase with the lower
viscosity (lower flow resistance) is generally chosen
as the continuous phase
The phase with the higher flow rate can be dispersed
to create more interfacial area and turbulence

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Calculations for Extraction

Consider

a dilute solution of acetaldehyde in

toluene, where part of the acetaldehyde is to be
extracted using water as the extracting solvent.
Toluene and water are practically immiscible in
mixtures containing up to 15 wt % acetaldehyde
When water is added to the solutions, some
acetaldehyde dissolve in water and two liquid
layers are formed

A+ T

A+ T

Raffinate

A+ W

Extract
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 Let

Xo = kgs of acetaldehyde per kg of toluene in the

initial solution
So = kgs of water (the extracting solvent) added
Ho = kgs of toluene in the initial solution
Y1 = the equilibrium concentrations of acetaldehyde in
the extract in kgs of acetaldehyde per kg of water
X1 = the equilibrium concentrations of acetaldehyde
in the raffinate in kgs of acetaldehyde per kg of
toluene
At

equilibrium, the overall material balance on the

acetaldehyde
XoHo = HoX1 + SoY1
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Example:
A solution of acetaldehyde and toluene
containing 11 kg of acetaldehyde and 100 kg of
toluene is to be extracted by 80 kg of water.
The extraction is to be performed at 17 oC,
where the equilibrium relationship between the
acetaldehyde concentration in the extract and
raffinate may be expressed as Y1 = 2.2X1. How
many kilograms of acetaldehyde will be
removed by the water?
(Answer: 7.02 kg)

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