AXIAL MIXING AND MASS-TRANSFER IN A VIBRATING PERFORATED PLATE EXTRACTION COLUMN

The axial mixing and countercurrent mass transfer characteristics of a 5 cm diameter extraction column agitated by vibrating perforated Teflon plates have been investigated. The dispersed phase was an organic liquid (usually kerosene) and the continuous phase was water. Axial mixing was measured in both phases using pulse tracer techniques; in the continuous phase the axial mixing was estimated to have a significant effect on mass transfer, but axial mixing in the dispersed phase had a negligible effect. Mass transfer was measured for several different solutes; n-butyric acid. benzoic acid and phenol. The overall heights of a transfer unit (cont. phase) were in the order of 10-20 cm for the organic acids but higher for transfer of phenol from very dilute solutions. The characteristics of the vibrating plate column have been compared with those of other types of extractor and suggestions are made for further development.