US 4,954,260 A · Countercurrent separation process and apparatus

Abstract

A multistage countercurrent separation apparatus and method is described. Each stage includes a mixer zone and a settler zone, both of which have temperature control means to achieve a first temperature and a second temperature, respectively, in the mixer and settler zones. Solvents used in the process are selected so that they have at least one immiscibility transition temperature such that they form a single homogeneous phase at said first temperature and two heterogeneous phases at said second temperature. By carrying out the process, a solute or solutes introduced into the system may appropriately be efficiently concentrated or separated with minimal agitation. Furthermore, because emulsification by rapid agitation is avoided, the homogeneous phase quickly coalesces upon passing into the heterogeneous phase, thereby increasing the throughput which may be achieved by the extraction process.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A countercurrent separation process having a multiplicity of stages, each stage including a mixer zone and a settler zone which comprises:

passing a first solvent and a second solvent in countercurrent flow path through said stages, said solvents being fully miscible at a first temperature and forming two phases at a second temperature;
maintaining the first temperature in the mixer zone and the second temperature in the settler zone of each stage;
feeding at least one solute, one of which is preferentially soluble in said first solvent, into said flow path;
and recovering said first solvent, rich in said preferentially soluble solute, from one end of said flow path and recovering said second solvent, lean in said preferentially soluble solute, from the opposite end of said path.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Countercurrent separation process and apparatus

Life of this patent

Countercurrent separation process and apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19