Green Effectively Enhanced Extraction to Produce Yttrium(III) in Slug Flow Microreactor

Abstract

Summary of main observation and conclusionProcess reinforcement research was carried out in Y‐junction slug flow microreactors under variable conditions, using EHEHPA (2‐ethylhexyl phosphonic acid mono‐2‐ethylhexyl) to extract yttrium(III) from hydrochloric acid solution. The influence of pH and flow rate on the extraction‐reaction efficiency, slug size, mass transfer performance was assessed. The experimental results showed that maximum extraction‐reaction efficiency of 91.85% can be achieved in the smallest microreactor (residence time is 11.25 s), which was significantly higher than traditional extraction requiring more than 10 min. The slug length tended to decrease with the increase of pH and flow rate. Volumetric mass transfer coefficients for the slug flow microreactors were found to be in the range of 1.39×10−1—1.642 s−1 that is several orders of magnitude higher as compared to traditional extractors, which testified the beneficial effects of Y‐junction slug flow microreactor. Significant mass transfer reinforcement has prompted the use of microreactor as a suitable alternative to traditional extractors, which can advantageously improve the economic and environmental development of mineral processing.