Experimental and model study for liquid–liquid extraction of conductive nanofluid drops under low voltage pulsed electric fields

Abstract

Mass transfer of conductive nanofluid drops in liquid–liquid extraction was investigated under low voltage pulsed electric fields. Cu and Ag nanoparticles were synthesized and characterized by different methods. The chemical system of kerosene–acetic acid–water was used in which mass transfer resistance exists mainly in the kerosene and the nanofluids of this solvent were dispersed phase drops. A column equipped with parallel plate electrodes was employed in which different pulsed electric field strengths of 2–16 V/cm and frequencies of 100–1000 Hz were established by means of an electric field generator. Terminal velocity of drops obeyed the Grace model and amazing mass transfer enhancements of 136.2 and 154.1% were achieved upon applying the pulsed electric fields. The well-known Kumar and Hartland correlation sufficiently reproduced the mass transfer coefficient data in relation to a developed correlation for the enhancement factor in terms of dimensionless influencing parameters.