EXTRACTION

•Removal of one or more components (solutes) from solids or liquids

using liquid solvent
LIQUID-LIQUID EXTRACTION/SOLVENT EXTRACTION
•Separation of two miscible liquids using another liquid (solvent)
•Eg. Vitamin A and D (solute) from fish oil (inert liquid) using liquid
propene (solvent)

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)
 LIQUID-LIQUID EXTRACTION

• takes advantage of the relative solubilities of solutes in immiscible or

nearly immiscible liquids

• solute dissolves more readily in the solvent in which it has a higher solubility

• Distribution Coefficient, K, determines the ratio of the concentration of the

solute in each liquid.

• Separation by distillation is ineffective or difficult

• Boiling points of mixtures are close

• Flexibility in operation conditions choice is desired

• More than two components are present

• The material is heat sensitive

COUNTER CURRENT EXTRACTION

• Two immiscible fluids, usually

one light and one heavy fluid,
flowing continuously in opposite
directions are brought together
and allowed to separate

• lighter liquid flows upward while

the heavier liquid flows downward

• extract is the exit solvent rich

stream containing the desired
extracted solute
• raffinate is the exit residual stream
containing little solute
 SINGLE-STAGE EXTRACTION
yA1 yA2

xA0 xA1
Total material balance: L0 + V2 = L1 + V1 = M
Balance on A: L0xA0 + V2yA2 = L1xA1 + V1yA1 =MxAM
Balance on C: L0xC0 + V2yC2 = L1xC1 + V1yC1 =MxCM
 CONTINUOUS MULTISTAGE
COUNTERCURRENT EXTRACTION

Total number of ideal stages = N

Total material balance:
L0 + VN+1 = LN + V1 = M
Balance on A:
L0xA0 + VN+1yAN+1 = LNxAN + V1yA1 =MxAM
Difference  in flows:
L0 – V1 = L1 – V2 = ….. =LN – VN+1
N = Total number of tie lines
 Example 12.7-2

V1 VN+1 = 450 kg/h

yA1 yAN+1 = 0
L0 = 150 kg/h LN
xA0 =0.3 xAN = 0.1

A = acetic acid, B = water, C = isopropyl ether

Total material balance: L0 + VN+1 = LN + V1 = M

150+ 450= LN + V1 = 600

Balance on A: L0xA0 + VN+1yAN+1 = LNxAN + V1yA1 =MxAM

150(0.3) + 450(0)= LNxAN + V1yA1 =600(xAM)

xAM = 0.075
 Example 12.7-2 
L0(0.3,0), VN+1(0,1), xN = 0.1, xAM = 0.075
1. Locate point L0(0.3,0.0),VN+1(0.0,1.0) and VN+1
V
LN(on the raffinate layer at xNA = 0.1) V2 3
V1
2. Draw a straight line connecting L0 & VN+1. N ≈ 2.3 stages
Locate point M M

3. Draw a straight line from LN through M to

intersect the extract layer to give V1
4. Locate the difference point  at the
intersection of lines L0V1 and LNVN+1
5. From V1 vertically to 45o line, horizontally LN
across to equilibrium line and back vertically L L2 L1
3 L0
to the raffinate layer to give L1
6. Draw a tie line from L1 to V1
7. Draw an operating line from L1 to  to
intersect the extract layer to give V2
8. Repeat steps 5-7 until coincide with LN or
exceed LN
9. Number of stages = number of tie lines