Liquid-liquid centrifugal extractor

A liquid-liquid centrifugal extractor wherein a liquid of greater specific gravity is introduced into an inner peripheral portion of a rotor chamber, while a liquid of smaller gravity is introduced into an outer peripheral portion, and thereafter the two liquids are brought into direct contact by exploiting the difference of the specific gravities thereof, to move an extract contained in one of the liquids into the other liquid, said liquid-liquid centrifugal extractor comprising:

• a base;
• a rotor rotatably mounted on said base for rotation about an axis, said rotor having a shaft portion, spaced apart side portions and a peripheral portion spaced from said shaft portion so as to define therebetween a liquid containing chamber that will subject liquid therein to centrifugal force with rotation of said rotor about said axis;
• a first plurality of separate liquid distributing means mounted in said rotor, peripherally spaced with respect to each other, radially spaced inwardly from said peripheral portion, extending between said sides in the outer portion of said chamber, and each extending parallel to said shaft for containing therein throughout their axial length the liquid of smaller specific gravity;
• a second plurality of separate liquid distributing means mounted on said rotor, peripherally spaced with respect to each other, radially spaced outwardly from said shaft portion, extending between said sides in the inner portion of said chamber and each extending parallel to said shaft for containing therein throughout their axial length the liquid of greater specific gravity;
• each of said distributing means including a plurality of holes for discharging respective streams of smaller specific gravity liquid radially inward from where it is held in said distribution means through its respective holes and discharging the greater specific gravity liquid radially outwardly through its holes from where it is held within its distributing means;
• said outer distributing means being spaced from each other so as to contain therebetween the liquid of greater specific gravity and said inner distributing means being spaced from each other peripherally so as to containg therebetween the liquid of smaller specific gravity;
• and
• said chamber within said rotor being substantially free of any solid element that would materially deflect or constrain the free movement of the liquids within said chamber.

A method of centrifugal liquid extraction, comprising the steps of:

• providing a base;
• providing a rotor rotatably mounted on said base for rotation about an axis with said rotor having a shaft portion, spaced apart side portions and a peripheral portion spaced from said shaft portion so as to define therebetween a liquid containing chamber that will subject liquid therein to a centrifugal force with rotation of said rotor about said axis;
• providing a first plurality of separate liquid distributing means mounted in said rotor peripherally spaced with respect to each, radially spaced inwardly from said peripheral portion, extending between said side portions in the outer periphery of said chamber, and each extending parallel to said shaft for containing therein throughout their axial length the liquid of smaller specific gravity;
• providing a second plurality of separate liquid distributing means mounted in said rotor peripherally spaced with respect to each other, radially spaced outwardly from said shaft portion, extending between said sides in the inner periphery of said chamber and extending parallel to said shaft for containing therein throughout their axial length the liquid of greater specific gravity;
• providing each of said distributing means with a plurality of holes for discharging respective streams of smaller specific gravity liquid radially inward from where it is held in said distributing means through its respective holes and discharging the greater specific gravity liquid radially outward through its respective holes from where it is held within its distributing means;
• providing said outer distributing means spaced from each other so as to contain therebetween the liquid of greater specific gravity and said inner distributing means spaced from each other peripherally so as to contain therebetween the liquid of smaller specific gravity;
• introducing the greater specific gravity liquid into the rotor, through said second distributing means, through the holes of said second distributing means at a velocity more than 1.5 m/s, through said rotor chamber, between said first distributing means, and outwardly from said rotor chamber through said rotor, while simultaneously introducing the liquid of smaller specific gravity into said rotor through said second distributing means, through the holes of said second distributing means at more than 1.5 m/s, radially inwardly through said rotor chamber, between said first distributing means, and outwardly through said rotor to exit from said chamber, while simultaneously moving an extract from one of said liquid into the other of said liquids within said chamber;
• maintaining the entire chamber within said rotor substantially completely filled with the liquids so as to form an annular boundary between the inner and outer distributing means defined by the liquid of smaller specific gravity filling the chamber inwardly of said boundary and the liquid of greater specific gravity filling the chamber outwardly of said boundary except for the passage of the liquid of smaller specific gravity that is introduced from the first distributing means to the boundary and the passage of the liquid of greater specific gravity that is introduced from the second distributing means to the boundary;
• and
• maintaining said chamber between said first distributing means and said second distributing means substantially free of any solid element that would materially deflect or constrain the free movement of the liquids within said chamber.

A method of centrifugal liquid-liquid extraction, comprising the steps of:

• providing a base;
• providing a rotor rotatably mounted on said base for rotation about an axis with said rotor having a shaft portion, spaced apart side portions and a peripheral portion spaced from said shaft portion so as to define therebetween a liquid containing chamber that will subject liquid therein to a centrifugal force with rotation about said axis;
• providing first liquid distributing means mounted in said rotor in the outer periphery of said chamber containing therein the liquid of smaller specific gravity;
• providing second liquid distributing means mounted in said rotor in the inner periphery of said chamber containing therein the liquid of greater specific gravity;
• providing an extract in one of said liquids;
• providing each of said distributing means with a plurality of holes;
• ejecting one of said two liquids through the holes of its distributing means at a velocity at least as great as 1.5 m/s into said rotor chamber, while simultaneously ejecting the other liquid through the holes of its distributing means into said rotor chamber, while rotating said rotor;
• and thereafter contacting the one ejected liquid directly with the other ejected liquid as they move in counterflow past each other by the effect of differential specific gravity between them while simultaneously moving an extract from one of said liquids into the other of said liquids within said chamber.