ABSTRACT
The influence of reactive extraction on the drop size distribution for lanthanum extraction was studied in the pilot plant asymmetric rotating disc column. The effect of agitation speed, the flow rate of aqueous and organic phases were investigated on the Sauter mean drop size and size distribution, extraction efficiency, and stripping percent. The prediction of drop size distribution was performed by using the minimum cross-entropy principle (MinCE). The higher values of extraction efficiency and stripping percent indicated that this column is the appropriate equipment for extraction. The outcome of this study provides valuable insights for the prediction of size distribution.
Graphical abstact
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Nomenclature
d30 | = | volume drop diameter (m3) |
d32 | = | Sauter mean diameter (m) |
Dc | = | column diameter (m) |
di | = | drop diameter (m) |
E | = | extraction efficiency (-) |
H | = | compartment height (m) |
M | = | metal ions in the aqueous or organic phase (-) |
MinCE | = | minimum cross entropy |
N | = | rotor speed (s−1) |
P | = | power input per agitator (W) |
= | probability density function | |
pi | = | probability of occurrence of state i |
Qc | = | continuous phase flow rate (m3/s) |
Qd | = | dispersed phase flow rate (m3/s) |
qi | = | prior probability of occurrence of state i |
S | = | percentage of stripping (-) |
Greek Letters
ε | = | mechanical power dissipation per unit mass (W kg−1) |
λ | = | Lagrange multipliers of probability function |
μ | = | viscosity (Pa.s) |
ρ | = | density (kg m−3) |
σ | = | interfacial tension (N m−1) |
Subscripts
aq | = | aqueous phase |
c | = | continuous phase |
d | = | dispersed phase |
org | = | organic phase |