Comparison of the Hydrodynamic Performance of Pulsed Solvent Extraction Columns with Tenova Pulsed Column Kinetics Internals and Standard Disc and Doughnut Internals for Copper Extraction Using the LIX 84 System

Abstract

The dispersed phase holdup and droplet size are important parameters for understanding the hydrodynamic performance of pulsed solvent extraction columns. This study provides a comparison of the hydrodynamic performance between a Tenova Pulsed Column with Kinetics Internals (TPC-KI) and a pulsed column with standard disc and doughnut internals. The TPC-KI internals are designed to improve the performance of systems with slow reaction kinetics, such as copper extraction with LIX 84 which was the focus of the current study. Holdup and drop size have been measured as a function of pulsation intensity and phase velocities for both types of column internals. Lower holdup and larger drop sizes were obtained with the TPC-KI internals which indicates a higher flood point and a higher throughput. Correlations have been developed to predict the performance of these internals over a range of operating conditions.

Dispersed‐Phase Holdup and Characteristic Velocity in an Agitated‐Pulsed Solvent Extraction Column

“…More recently, the dispersed‐phase holdup was studied by Li et al. 19 in a pulsed column with Tenova kinetics internals. Experimental data were also predicted by Eq.…”

Comparison of mass transfer performance of pulsed columns with Tenova kinetics internals and standard disc and doughnut internals

“…The holdup value (xd) was predicted via correlations (Eq. 30) developed in our previous studies [2,3]. The correlated constants k1 and k2 were shown in Table 3 which varied with the liquidliquid systems.…”

“…A 2-metre-high pilot scale pulsed solvent extraction column was used in this study. The detailed column design was reported in our previous works [2][3][4]. The column consisted of four QVF® precision pipeline components, including one unequal tee piece, two 1 metre high 76 mm diameter precision bore glass tubes and a concentric reducer.…”

“…30 and Eq. 31) developed in our previous studies [2,3]. The constants in above correlations (ki and Ci) were summarised in Supplementary document S1.…”

“…TKI have "teeth" on the edges of disc and doughnut sheets which are designed to enhance breakage of the dispersed phase droplets, and therefore achieve less backmixing and improved mass transfer for the same flux. Our previous studies of the hydrodynamic [2,3] and axial dispersion performance [4] of TKI showed that the kinetic internals have higher potential throughput and similar axial dispersion coefficients compared with the standard disc and doughnut internals.…”