To improve the performance of solvent extraction of rare metals, the effects of ultrasonic and organic solvent conditions on the demulsification of emulsions were examined. Optimized conditions were adopted in the solvent extraction of gallium by ultrasonic irradiation. As organic solvents, chloroform, 1,2-dichloromethane, p-bromotoluene, bromobenzene, and 1,2-dibromoethane were employed. Emulsification was carried out using a horn-type transducer at 20 kHz. Demulsification was performed with plate-type transducers at 1.0-4.8 MHz. The demulsification time decreased with increasing ultrasonic frequency and power because the primary and secondary acoustic forces of droplets become stronger. Inclining the vessel shortened the demulsification time. In the case of chloroform at a low solution pH, the demulsification time was shortest since the zeta potential of droplets was close to zero. The sequential ultrasonic irradiation at 20 kHz and 4.8 MHz greatly shortens the operation time needed for solvent extraction of gallium from an aqueous solution.
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