Investigation of extraction fraction in confined impinging jet reactors for tri-butyl-phosphate extracting butyric acid process

The extraction fraction E and overall volumetric mass transfer coefficient kLa of TBP extracting butyric acid process in confined impinging jet reactors (CIJR) with two jets were investigated. The main variables tested were the concentration of tri-butyl-phosphate (TBP) and butyric acid, the impinging velocity V, the impinging velocity ratio of two phases Vorg/Vaq, the nozzle inner diameter di and the distance L between the jet axes and the top wall of the impinging chamber. The results showed that E and kLa increase with an increase of the impinging velocity V, the concentration of TBP Corg, and the impinging velocity ratio Vorg/Vaq. However, E and kLa decrease with an increase of the inner diameter di from 1 to 2 mm, the concentration of butyric acid Caq from 0.5% (v/v) to 2% (v/v). The factor L ranging from 3 to 11 mm has a negligible effect on E and kLa. A correlation on these variables and kLa was proposed based on the experimental data. These results indicated good mass transfer performance of CIJR in the extraction operation.

The extraction fraction in CIJR for TBP extracting butyric acid process was studied, as shown in Fig. (a). In this work, the effects of the concentration of butyric acid Caq and TBP Corg, the impinging velocity V, the upper distance of the impinging zone L, the impinging velocity ratio of two phases Vorg/Vaq and the inner nozzle diameter di for the extraction efficiency and the overall volumetric mass transfer coefficient kLa of the extraction processes were investigated. Fig. (b) showed the overall volumetric mass transfer coefficient kLa ascends from 2 to 25 s− 1 with an increase of the impinging velocity V from 1 to 7.8 m·s− 1. The experimental results indicated good mass transfer performance of the CIJR for the extracting process.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide