Intensification of liquid-liquid extraction in a tubular sono-extractor using 1.7 MHz ultrasound and SiO2 nanoparticles

Abstract

The purpose of the present study is to investigate the effect of high-frequency ultrasound propagation in a sono-extractor to augment liquid-liquid mass transfer in the presence of SiO2 nanoparticles. For this purpose, four 1.7 MHz ultrasound transducers are placed on the body of the sono-extractor and the effect of transducer locations on the mass transfer characteristics are evaluated. Using ultrasound and nanoparticles showed a higher effect on the increase in the mass transfer characteristics compared with only using ultrasound or nanoparticles. Activation of two bottom transducers is more efficient from viewpoint of lower energy consumption. The effect of increasing the power of ultrasound (P) is investigated and measurable increase in KLa and E are obtained. The effect of various weight fraction of nanoparticles (ϕ = 0.1–2% wt.) on KLa and E is evaluated and ϕ = 2% wt showed higher values. Maximum values of KLa (2.81 × 10−3 1/s) and E (0.943) are achieved for activation of two bottom ultrasound transducers with P = 9.5 W and ϕ = 2% wt.