US 5,334,317 AGranted

Method for recovering organic material in solvent extraction processes

AssigneeCorporacion Nacional del Cobre de Chile

InventorsGustavo H. Bannach Sichtermann, Aliro T. N. Pincheira Alverez, Andres A. Reghezza Inzunza, Alberto S. Cruz Rivera, Tomas S. Lorca Soto, Luis F. Hidalgo Cortes, Jorge M. Menacho Llana, Miguel A. Martinez Pereira

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Abstract

A method for the recovery of organic materials trapped in the emulsions generated in solvent extraction plants. The emulsions are first washed in aqueous solution. The washed emulsions are then subjected to a mechanical breaking process in aqueous/organic dispersion, inducing the inversion of the continuity of phases in the emulsions and the release of the phases involved. Subsequent separation of the phases by decanting enables the removal of significant quantities of solids and increases the overall recovery of the organic trapped in the emulsions.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A method for recovering organic material from emulsions produced during a solvent extraction process, comprising:

introducing a quantity of emulsions produced during a solvent extraction process into a first collecting pond, said emulsion comprising drops of organic material suspended in an aqueous matrix and a plurality of fine solid particles located at the interface between the organic material and the aqueous matrix;
adding to said emulsions in said first pond a quantity of an aqueous washing solution such that the ratio of the emulsions to the aqueous washing solution is between about 1:1 to 1:2,
washing said emulsions with the aqueous washing solution;
purging said washed emulsions to remove between 25-75 percent by weight of the solids therefrom together with a portion of said aqueous washing solution;
transferring the washed emulsions into a second collecting pond;
breaking at least some of said emulsions by agitating said emulsions within said second pond with an organic liquid which is miscible with the organic phase of the emulsion and immiscible with the aqueous phase;
decanting said emulsions for a sufficient time to form at least three substantially separate layers within said second collecting pond, said layers comprising a first organic layer, a second layer of unbroken emulsions and a third layer comprising an aqueous phase with a quantity of solid particles in suspension therein, said particles containing a quantity of impregnated organic material;
and
removing said organic layer from said second pond.

6 more elements

A method for recovering organic material from emulsions produced during a solvent extraction process, said method comprising:

introducing a quantity of emulsions produced during a solvent extraction process into a first collecting pond, said emulsions comprising drops of organic material suspended in an aqueous matrix and a plurality of fine solid particles located at the interface between the organic material and the aqueous matrix;
adding an aqueous washing solution to said emulsions in said first pond by spraying or showering said aqueous washing solution onto the surface of said pond in an amount such that the ratio of the emulsions to the aqueous washing solution is between about 1:1 and 1:2;
washing said emulsions with said aqueous washing solution for between about 1-2 hours;
subjecting said washed emulsions to a first purge to remove between about 25-75 percent by weight of solids therefrom, together with a portion of said aqueous washing solution;
permitting the washed emulsion to stand for an interval of between about 2 and 25 hours to permit phase separation therein;
performing a second purge of said emulsions to adjust the aqueous content thereof to between about 30-50% by volume and the content of suspended solids to between about 1-5% by volume;
transferring the emulsions from said first collecting pond into a second collecting pond wherein said emulsions are mechanically agitated with an organic liquid which is miscible with the organic phase of the emulsion and immiscible with the aqueous phase thereof;
breaking at least some of said emulsions by agitating said emulsions and said organic liquid;
decanting the contents of said second collecting pond for between about 15-24 hours to form at least three substantially separate layers therein, said layers comprising a first organic layer, a second unbroken emulsion layer and a third aqueous phase layer, said third layer further including a quantity of organic solid particles in suspension therein, said particles containing a quantity of impregnated organic;
and
removing said organic layer from said second collection pond.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.