Solvent Extraction

Solvent Extraction, also known as liquid-liquid

extraction, is a method to separate compounds based on
their relative solubilities in two different immiscible
liquids, usually water and an organic solvent.

from the
rest

Mixture
Importance of the process:

>- The Solvent Extraction(S.E.) process first

was
metallic
developed elementa toolof oftheanalytical
periodic chemistry.
table could
Every
be
as virtually separated by this process.
>- Bacl< in i94o's , S.E. was primarily used to
separate nuclear and rare earth elements.
>- However, availability of inexpensive and effective
reagents led to the establishment of large scale S.E.
processes for extraction of non-ferrous metals from
hydrometallurgical leach liquors.
 Solvent Extraction, consists of transferring one (or
more) solute(s) contained in a feed solution to
another immiscible liquid (solvent) .
The solvent that is enriched in solute(s) is called
Extract & the feed solution that is depleted of
solute(s) is called Raffinate.

feed solution + extract .1.

solute(s)
olutc(s)
solv raffin
ent atc
 l\Iixed l\letal Selected l\Ietal Selected l\letal Reduci ng
\\raste Solution in Oa·ganic in Aqueous . gent

Leach Reduce
Recycled Rec·cled Strip Ietal
Extract;.'lnt Solution \";. lue
(Spent Electolyte)

M M M M M
M M M M Loaded
M
MM M
M M M MM
Extractant
M
M
Aqueous
M
Metal- SETTLING Raffinate
bearing MM CHAMBER
aqueous
solution M
M
M

Water-im01iscible extractant
M M solution
MIXING
CHAMBER
 Types of Solvent Extraction

• SOLVATING
EXTRACTION
• CATIONIC EXCHANGE
• ANIONIC EXCHANGE
• CHELATING EXTRACTION
• SOLVATING
EXTRACTION
Solvent used:
i) Tri Butyl Phosphate (TBP)
2)Tri Octyl Phosphine Oxide(TOPO)
3)Methyl Iso Butyl l(etones( MIBK)

Application:
Extraction/Separation of Lead , Zinc , Uranium,
Iron , Cadmium, Hafnium , Zirconium & Plutonium.
• CATIONIC
EXCHANGE
Solventi) used: Di-2-ethylhexy Phosphoric
Acid(D2EHPA)
2)NaphthenicAcid
3)Versatic Acid

Application:
Extraction/Separation of Copper, Zinc,
Nickel, Cobalt, Silver
• ANIONIC
EXCHANGE
Solventi) used:
Primary Amines(RN H 2)

2) Secondary Amines(R 2 NH)

3) Tertiary Amines( R3N) (R=> C12 -
C14)
Application:
Extraction/Separation of Uranium, Thorium,
Vanadium, Cobalt
• CHELATING
EXTRACTION
Solvent used:
i) Lix63 , Lix65
2) I<elex 100
Et Me
I
OR
I
n-Bu - CR -CB 2 -CH 2 -CR

Kelex 1
00

Application:
Extraction/Separation of Copper , Nickel, Cobalt
-- Two ba sic steps of
S.E.
D Extraction

D Stripping
 Solvent Extraction of Uranium
Saturated
Tributyl
Phosphat
e
Impure
Acidic Uranyl
Nitrate
• 0

••,
0
0
•
0
0 •• ••
•o ••
•
• .., . Clean
Water
•• • • • •• •
.
SPG 1.3
• •4>9
0 • 0. 0 0
• • 00 0 • • •• •" 0
Tnbutyl Phosphate flowing
counter current to Uranyl
...
0 .0 0•• 0
0
:• o G 0 D
0
•
,.
.•

•• •••• • •
0 0

.... ..
Nitrate solution removes
1mpuntJes and reJectS
• 0 •
• •• • •
0 • •

:
z.•.•.' -
••·-•
them Into the Raffenate.
• o o o • •o •
• •• •e
•• 0
Clea ••• •

':.. .. ..
•• • 0
D Tributyl
n 0 0
Phosphat

Raffenate
•
•oo ••
• •0 •
0 0 .0 • •0
•
••
eSPG
0.85
.":. :
0
·• 0 0
,•• • • • 0
0 0 • •

•
Thorium
···.
•• 0
Pure
Molybdenum • Urany
U Daughters l
Nitrate
Tungston Pum
Solution
p
 Distribution Coefficient
At a certain temperature, the ratio of concentrations of a
solute in each of the solvents is always constant.
This ratio is known as the Distribution Coefficient( l(0)

Cone. of metal ion in Organic Phase

J(D = - ---------
Cone. of metal ion in Aqueous Phase
organic phase

Sorg

-Ks

Saq

aqu eou s phase

 organic phase

H lorg (MLn)org
'. .
'
, Ko,HI.:' ,_

_
,
,-

Hlaq
+ Ko,
HO
• c
Ka
,,
f3n ..
n L + Mn+ 4
(Mln)aq

-
H3o+
+ aqueous phase
 organic
compound
solvent in solvent
layer layer

•• Single Stage S.E.

organic compound
• Single stage process is commonly l.n aqueoU&
layer

followed in laboratory scale. Before eztraction

Afte% eztraction

• Contacting is carried out by taking two phases together in a

separating funnel followed by vigorous agitation so that the
phases may disperse in each other as fine droplets.
Ceasing the agitation lead to the separation of phases in two
distinct layers.
•• Single Stage S.E.
From mass balance it can be shown that:

where,
X0 = Cone. of metal ions in the feed solution
i.e. the aqueous phase before any contact.

X1 = Cone. of metal ions in the aq. raffinate

i.e. the aqueous phase after a single contact.
 •• Multi Stage Counter Current S.E.

• For extraction of metals on Industrial scale, multi stage

counter current solvent extraction process is followed.

• The aqueous raffinate from one extraction unit is fed to the

next unit as the aqueous feed, while the organic solvent
flows in the opposite direction, thereby picl<ing up more
metal ions in successive contacts.

• Dividing the organic phase into small parts & mal<ing

multiple contacts is the most efficient way of extracting.
Multistage Counter-cur rent
S.E.
0 0

Organic phase
0 0

A A
Aqueous phase
A A
Selection of Organic
Solvent
> High extraction capacity
> Selectivity
> Easily Stripped
> Immiscible in aqueous phase
> Sufficient density difference with the aq.
phase Low Viscosity
> Non toxic
> Non explosive
> Cheap
 Diluents
• Diluent is required for dissolving or diluting the organic extractant so that
its physical properties like viscosity and density become more favorable for
better mixing of the two phases and their separation.
• Aliphatic or Aromatic hydrocarbons or a combination of both, are used as
diluent.
• Diluent affects the extraction, scrubbing, stripping and phase separation
process quite significantly.
• Examples of some common diluents:
• I<erosene
• Benzene
• Chloroform
• Xylene
• Naptha
• Toluene
 Equipments for Solvent
Extraction
• Mixer-Settlers
,-

I
I OALESCENCE
MOTOR W
ITH PLATES IGHT PHASE \
MIXER/CMPELL
E JElR

DJUSTABLE
HEAVY
M IX ING PHASE \.IE R
CHAI EE

....
r

...:
C
::t
ri .."lJ
:c
l>
<
-
l>'\
c(I)
M
<
"I
l>
(II
c:J
c...
Ml r
XER/IMPELLE c _M..
LIGHT HEAVY PHASE c_. ..
PHASE INLET r ,,,. _
..
SETTLING
CHAMBE
 Equipments for Solvent Extraction

• Column column extractor

Contactor light phase out
= loaded organic

heavy phase in
= aqu eous feed

interface
control

light phas e in
= organic feed

---- heavy phas e out

= raffin ate
Equipments for Solvent
Extraction
• Centrifugal Sp1aSl1 Plate
SH11qer R1np

Contactor

.
Motr-llr-n'"l'I··
fit\a:;eInlet ......!

t. ­
Ocn8':1-
J Jlh:aioe
In et
Sepanar1n g
Zone -" -M1J111t9
Zone
ltotor - -

Elollom V lll"Ies
Appl ication
Today the process of Solvent Extraction is widely applied in
miscellaneous fields of Science and Technology

•Analytical Chemistry
•Extraction of Rare-earths & PGM
•Waste water treatment
•Mineral oil treatment & dewaxing
•Food industry(essential oil extraction)
•Perfume industry(fragrance extraction)
•Pharmaceutical industry