Experimental and numerical study of liquid–liquid interphase mass transfer in a pilot-scale extraction column

Abstract

Liquid–liquid interphase mass transfer was experimentally and numerically studied in a pilot-scale pulsed disc-and-doughnut column (PDDC). The mass transfer coefficients, which were determined by analyzing experimental data through a transient axial dispersion model, increased from 2.27 × 10–6 to 3.06 × 10–6 m/s with an increase in the pulsation intensity from 0.0065 to 0.0105 m/s. The Euler–Euler two-fluid model was applied to simulate the interphase mass transfer in the PDDC. Three key issues, including the formulation of governing equations, selection of the mesh size, and determination of the mass transfer coefficient, which significantly influence the numerical accuracy, were discussed in detail. The simulated concentration profiles accorded well with that predicted by the experimentally verified mass transfer model. Local mass transfer performance was uncovered based on simulation results to elucidate the spatial and temporal variation of the solute concentrations, hold-up, and mass transfer coefficients in the PDDC.