Solvent extraction and stripping of copper in a Y-Y type microchannel reactor

The overall volumetric mass transfer coefficients (KLα) were calculated to evaluate mass transfer characteristics. For comparison, conventional batch extraction experiments were also carried out, in parallel. The laminar flow pattern through the Y-Y microchannel was investigated by numerical simulation, and by experimental measurements. The maximum separation factors, βCu/Fe and βCu/Zn, were found to be 465.53 and 1249.70, respectively. Higher KLα values (0.4937-3.3969 s−1) were obtained for Cu within 5 s using a microchannel reactor compared with values (0.006-0.073 s−1) from batch experiments. Much higher overall volumetric mass transfer coefficients,KLα values (0.4937-3.3969 s−1) for Cu, and lower KLα values for Fe (0.0477-0.3173 s−1) and Zn (0.0395-0.2130 s−1), demonstrated an effective separation between Cu and Fe, Zn.