Donald A Libby

US Patent:

43149740, Feb 9, 1982

Filed:

Apr 30, 1979

Appl. No.:

6/034805

Inventors:

Donald R. Libby - Magnolia MA
Sung J. Chen - North Andover MA

Assignee:

Chemineer, Inc. - Dayton OH

International Classification:

C01G 4300

US Classification:

423 8

Abstract:

An improved liquid-liquid solvent extraction system is provided having a mixing stage which includes a mixing device for creating a dispersion of the two liquid phases followed by a residence chamber designed to enhance contacting and mass transfer between the solute and solvent phases. The separating stage includes a drop size conditioning device which establishes a drop size in the discontinuous liquid phase of the dispersion which can be separated easily from the continuous liquid phase in the succeeding settling stage of the device. The drop size conditioning device also acts to reduce entrainment of the solvent phase in the solute phase during separation of the phases. The settling device may contain a series of baffles to reduce the time required for phase separation and to reduce entrainment of the solvent phase in the solute phase. The system is used to extract metal ions such as uranium, copper, cobalt, nickel, and vanadium from aqueous process streams containing dilute concentrations of such ions. Hydrocarbon solvents which are partially or totally immiscible in water are used to extract the metal ions and may contain additives such as complex-forming agents to aid in the mass transfer of metal ions to the solvent phase.