Liquid–Liquid

Extraction
INTRODUCTION
The separation of the components of a
liquid mixture by treatment with a
solvent in which one or more of the
desired components is preferentially
soluble is known as liquid–liquid
extraction
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
 Example of Extraction Process
Extract
Organic layer contains most of acetic acid in ethyl acetate
Acetic acid in H2O
with a small amount of water.
+

Raffinate
Ethyl acetate Aqueous layer contains a weak acetic acid solution
with a small amount of ethyl acetate.

The amount of water in the extract and ethyl acetate in the raffinate depends
upon their solubilities in one another.
INTRODUCTION
An operation which is used, for example, in the processing of coal tar liquids and
in the production of fuels in the nuclear industry, and which has been applied
extensively to the separation of hydrocarbons in the petroleum industry

In this operation, it is essential that the liquid-mixture feed and solvent are at
least partially if not completely immiscible and, in essence, three stages are
involved:
• (a) Bringing the feed mixture and the solvent into intimate contact,
• (b) Separation of the resulting two phases, and
• (c) Removal and recovery of the solvent from each phase.
INTRODUCTION
It is possible to combine stages (a) and (b) into a single piece of equipment such as a column

which is then operated continuously. Such an operation is known as differential contacting.

Liquid–liquid extraction is also carried out in stage wise equipment, the prime example being a

mixer–settler unit in which the main features are the mixing of the two liquid phases by agitation,

followed by settling in a separate vessel by gravity.

In many of these processes, some form of chemical complex is formed between the solute and
the solvent so that the kinetics of the process become important.
EXTRACTION PROCESSES
EXTRACTION PROCESSES
A continuous two-stage operation is shown in Figure, where the mixers and separators are shown
as separate vessels. There are three main forms of equipment. First there is the mixer-settler as
shown in Figure 13.1, secondly, there is the column type of design with trays or packing as in
distillation and, thirdly, there are a variety of units incorporating rotating devices such as the
Scheibel and the Podbielniak extractors. In all cases, the extraction units are followed by
distillation or a similar operation in order to recover the solvent and the solute.
EXTRACTION PROCESSES
 Extractants
The efficiency of a liquid liquid extraction can be enhanced by adding one or more extractants to
the solvent phase.

The extractants interacts with component i increasing the capacity of the solvent for i. To
recover the solute from the extract phase the extractant-solute complex has to be degraded.
 Why LLE ?
1. Where distillation required excessive heat e.g when R.V is unity
2. When formation of azeotropes limits degree of seperation obtained in Distillation
3. When Heating must be avoided
4. When components to be seperated are different in nature
5. Recovery of heat sensitive material
 Types of operation
Physical operation (LLE)
◦ Work we do in lab.

Chemical Operations
◦ Involving cation exchange(extraction of metallic carboxylic acids)
◦ Anion Exchange (Extraction of anions involving metal with amines)
◦ Formation of an additive compounds Purification of uranium
Different Pattern of Flow
When both phases are flowing:
Co-current contact

Stage 1 Stage 2 etc

1 2
Cross flow

Counter-current flow 1 2
Choosing a Solvent System
Choice of Solvent
Choice of Solvent
Distribution coefficient
K = mass fraction solute in E phase
mass fraction solute in R phase
If the product was a fairly large organic molecule which you would predict to be not very soluble
in water
If the product were a lower molecular weight or small molecule then it is at least partially water-
soluble.

Such as acetic acid or sugar, most of the solute will reside in the water phase.
 Distribution Coefficient
At equilibrium the molecules naturally distribute themselves in the solvent where they are more
soluble.

By using the correct solvent system, a molecule can be specifically selected and extracted from
another solvent.
EQUIPMENTS FOR LLE
Mixer Settler
Spray Column
Packed and Tray Column
COLUMN WITH MECHANICALLY ASSISTED AGITATION
COLUMN WITH MECHANICALLY ASSISTED AGITATION
GENERAL DESIGN CONSIDERATION
LLE CASCADE CONFIGURATION
Factors influencing the Extraction Process
Factors influencing the Extraction Process
Solvent selection
LLE Equilibrium system ( Ternary Diagram)
LLE Equilibrium system ( Ternary Diagram)
Tutorial
Tutorial
Tutorial
Tutorial
Tutorial
Tutorial
Tutorial
Tutorial
Tutorial
Triangular Phase Diagram
Triangular Phase Diagram
Triangular Phase Diagram
Triangular Phase Diagram
Triangular Phase Diagram
Triangular Phase Diagram
Triangular Phase Diagram
Triangular Phase Diagram
Triangular Phase Diagram
Triangular Phase Diagram
Triangular Phase Diagram
Triangular Phase Diagram
Triangular Phase Diagram
Triangular Phase Diagram
Minimum and Maximum Solvent to Feed Flowrate Ratio
Minimum and Maximum Solvent to Feed Flowrate Ratio
Minimum and Maximum Solvent to Feed Flowrate Ratio
Minimum and Maximum Solvent to Feed Flowrate Ratio
Minimum and Maximum Solvent to Feed Flowrate Ratio
Minimum and Maximum Solvent to Feed Flowrate Ratio
Minimum and Maximum Solvent to Feed Flowrate Ratio
Minimum and Maximum Solvent to Feed Flowrate Ratio
Minimum and Maximum Solvent to Feed Flowrate Ratio
Minimum and Maximum Solvent to Feed Flowrate Ratio
Minimum and Maximum Solvent to Feed Flowrate Ratio
Minimum and Maximum Solvent to Feed Flowrate Ratio
Minimum and Maximum Solvent to Feed Flowrate Ratio
Minimum and Maximum Solvent to Feed Flowrate Ratio
Minimum and Maximum Solvent to Feed Flowrate Ratio
Minimum and Maximum Solvent to Feed Flowrate Ratio