CHAPTER 8

LEACHING OPERATION
(LIQUID-SOLID
SEPARATION)

Mohd Fadhil Majnis

Department of Chem. & Pet. Eng.
FETBE, UCSI University
1

TOPIC LEARNING OUTCOME

Introduction of leaching.
Analyze the equilibrium relations and single stage
leaching.
Analyze the countercurrent multistage leaching.

SOLID-LIQUID EXTRACTION/LEACHING
Separation of solutes from solid using liquid solvent
Eg. Soya milk (solute) from soya bean (inert solid) using water
(liquid solvent)
In the metal industry - leaching of copper salts from ground ores
using sulfuric acid or ammoniacal solutions

Leaching of toxic materials into groundwater is a major health concern

3

EQUILIBRIUM RELATIONS & SINGLE-STAGE LEACHING

Fresh solvent

Overflow (enriched solvent)

Rich solids

Underflow (spent solids)

Assumptions:
solute-free solid (B) is insoluble in the solvent
(C)
sufficient time for equilibrium
no adsorption of solute (A) back into solid
Concentration of solution in overflow = concentration of solution in underflow
Concentration of inert solid (B) in solution of underflow, N:
kg B
N
kg A kg C
Weight fraction of solute (A) in overflow V,xA:
x A kg A
kg A kg C
kg A
Weight fraction of solute (A) in underflows solution L,y A: y A kg A kg C
4

EQUILIBRIUM RELATIONS

Constant underflow concentration straight & horizontal line in N vs y A

Varying underflow concentration a curve in N vs y A
5

SINGLE-STAGE LEACHING
Overflow

Fresh solvent

Rich solids

Underflow

V = overflow flowrate (kg/h)

L = underflows solid-free flowrate (kg/h)
M = imaginary total flowrate (kg/h)
Total material balance:

L1 L0

L0 + V2 = L1 + V1 = M

Balance on A:

L0yA0 + V2xA2 = L1yA1 + V1xA1 =MxAM

Balance on B:
L0N0 + 0 = L1N1 + 0 =MNM

V1
xAM

V2

Example 12.9-1
100 kg soy beans containing 20 wt. % oil is leached with 100 kg of fresh hexane. N
for the slurry underflow is essentially constant at 1.5 kg insoluble solid/kg
V1 ,xA1
V2 = 100 kg
solution retained.
1 atm
Comp. A = soy oil
xA2=0
L
,N
B
=
100(1-0.2)
=
80kg
1
1
0
293K
Comp.B = soy bean
Comp.C = hexane
yA1
L0 = 100 80 = 20 kg
N0 = 80/20=4, yA0 = 1

Total material balance:

L0 + V2 = L1 + V1 = M
20 + 100 = L1 + V1 = 120
Balance on A:
20(1) + 100(0) = L1xA1 + V1yA1 =120(xAM)
(xAM) =0.167
From the graph:

yA1 = 0.167 xA1 = 0.167

Solving: L1 = 53.3 kg V1 = 66.7 kg

COUNTERCURRENT MULTISTAGE LEACHING

Total material balance:

L0 + VN+1 = LN + V1 = M
Balance on A:
L0yA0 + VN+1xAN+1 = LNyAN+ V1xA1 =MxAM
Difference flows :
= L0 - V1 = LN- VN+1 =
8

Example 12.10-1

L0 = 800 + 50 = 850 kg/h

y0A = 800/ 850 = 0.941
N0 = 2000/850 = 2.36

Feed: B = 2000 kg/h meal A = 800 kg oil C = 50 kg benzene

Fresh solvent: C = 1310 kg
benzene A = 20 kg oil
Leached solids: A = 120 kg oil.

VN+1 = 1310 + 20 = 1330 kg/h

xN+1A = 20/ 1330 = 0.015

LN = 120 + C

yNA = 120/(120 +C)

NN = 2000/120+C

Solvent free calculation for leached solid:

Total material balance:
Balance on A:

yNA = 120/120 = 1
NN = 2000/120 = 16.67
L0 + VN+1 = LN + V1 = M

850 + 1330 = LN + V1 = 2180

L0yA0 + VN+1xAN+1 = LNyAN + V1xA1 =MxAM
850(0.941) + 1330(0.015) = LNyAN + V1xA1 =2180(xAM)
9
xAM = 0.376

Example 12.10-1
1. Plot N vs yA,xA with underflow & overflow. Locate L0, VN+1 & LN
L0 = 850 kg/h
y0A = 800/ 850 = 0.941
N0 = 2000/850 = 2.36
VN+1 = 1330 kg/h

L0

LN
M
V1

VN+1

xN+1A = 20/ 1330 = 0.015

Solvent free calculation for leached solid:
yNA = 120/120 = 1
N 0
NN = 2000/120 = 16.67= slope = y 0
M = 2180
N 0 N 0 16.67
xAM = 0.376
N = 1.67
y 0 0.1 0
2. Locate M on the line joining VN+1 & L0. A line from LN through M will give V1
on the overflow.
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Example 12.10-1
3. From V1 draw a vertical tie line to give L1. Locate from the intersection
of the lines L0V1 & VN+1 LN
L0

L1

LN
M
VN+1

V1

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Example 12.10-1
4. From L1 draw a line to to giveV2 on the overflow. From V2 draw a
vertical tie line to give L2. Repeat until LN or exceed LN.
L4LN

VN+1V4

L3

L2

L1

V3

V2

V1

L0

No. of theoretical stages = 3.6

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