AIMS

1. To conduct the simple experiments regarding liquid-liquid extraction.

2. To determine the distribution coefficient for the system organic solvent-propionic acidwater and show its dependence on concentration.
3. To demonstrate how a mass balance is performed on the extraction column and to
measure the mass transfer coefficient with the aqueous phase as the continuous medium.

THEORY

Liquid-liquid extraction is a process where transferring of one ( or more ) solute contain in a feed
solution to another immiscible liquid ( solvent ) occur. The solvent that is enriched in solute is
called extract. While the feed solution that is depleted in solute is called raffinate. Liquid-liquid
extraction which is also known as solvent extraction and partitioning, is a method to separate
compounds based on their relative solubilities in two immiscible liquids, usually water and an
organic solvent.
Extraction equipment may be operated batch wise or continuous. The extract may be lighter or
heavier than the raffinate so the extract may be shown coming from top of the equipment in some
cases and from the bottom in others. The operation may be repeated if more than one contact is
required but when the quantities involved are large and several contacts are needed, continuous
flow becomes economical. In this experiment, the extract phase will be the water and propionic
acid while the raffimate will be the organic solvent with a trace of propionic acid.
In dilute solutions at equilibrium, the concentration of the solute in the two phases is called the
distribution coefficient or distribution constant, K, which can be defined as the ratio of :

K=

concentration of solutet h e extract p h ase ,Y

concentrationof solute in t h e raffinate p h ase , X

The distribution coefficient can also be given as the weight fraction of the solute in the two
phases in equilibrium contact:

K=

weight fractionof the solute the extract phase , y

weight fraction pf the solute the raffinate , x

However, at low concentrations, the distribution coefficient is dependent on the concentration

and thus, Y = KX.
There are some other factor that affect the rate at which a soluble component is transferred from
one solvent to another which is the area of the interface between the two immiscible liquids.
Therefore it is very advantageous for this interface to be formed by droplets and films.

The theory for the system Trichloroethylene-Propionic acid-Water is as follows:

Let

Vw : Water flow rate ( L/s )

Vo : Organic solvent, Trichloroethylene flow rate ( L/s )
X : Propionic acid concentration in the organic phase ( kg/L )
Y : Propionic acid concentration in the aqueous phase ( kg/L )

Subscripts:

1
2

= Top of column

= Bottom of column

1. Mass Balance:
Propionic acid extracted from the organic phase (raffinate).
= V0 (X1-X2)
Propionic acid extracted by the aqueous phase (extract)
= Vw (Y1-0)

Therefore,
V0 (X1-X2) = Vw (Y1-0)

2. Extraction Efficiency
Mass transfer coefficient ( based on the raffinate phase )
=

Rate of acid transfer

Volume of packing Meandriving force

Log mean driving force =

X 1X 2
X 1
ln
X 2

Where X1 : Driving force at the top of the column = (X2-0)

X2 : Driving force at the bottom of the column = (X1-X1*)

Where X1* is the concentration in the organic phase which would be in equilibrium with
concentration Y1 in the aqueous phase. The equilibrium values can be found using the
distribution coefficient found in the first experiment.