Comparison of solvent extraction and LEM extraction in static mixer for recovery of Mo(VI) from dilute aqueous solution

Abstract

In this paper, the liquid emulsion membrane extraction of molybdenum(VI) has been conducted in static mixer. The performance in LEM mode is compared to a conventional solvent extraction mode. The rate of extraction in LEM mode is found to be significantly higher than conventional solvent extraction. Study reveals that the optimum residence time, height of the static mixer and optimum surfactant concentration are the deciding parameters of the performance of static mixer. The effect of various parameters such as superficial velocity of aqueous phase and organic phase, residence time, initial Mo(VI) concentration in feed phase, height of column, and surfactant concentration on rate of extraction has been investigated. A mathematical model is developed to predict volumetric mass transfer coefficient (kLa) in a static mixer. The kLa value is reduced from 0.045s−1 to 0.015s−1 when height of the mixer was increased from 31cm to 93cm respectively under the same hydrodynamic conditions. This anomalous decrease of kLa with increase in height is due to acid extraction by TBP which reduces driving force for extraction of Mo(VI). HTU for solvent extraction and LEM extraction are estimated as 0.67m and 0.15m respectively which indicates less mass transfer resistance in LEM.