Prediction of Concentration Profiles in an L‐Shaped Pulsed Extraction Column

• Published in: Chemical engineering & technology 2019-03, Vol.42 (3), p.584-598
• Main Authors: Rafiei, Vahid, Safdari, Jaber, Moradi, Sadegh, Amani, Pouria, Mallah, Mohammad H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acetone; Axial dispersion model; Back flow model; Flow coefficients; Mass transfer; Mass transfer unit; Mathematical models; Plate columns; Plug flow; Plug flow model; Pulsed plate column; Toluene
• ISSN: 0930-7516; 1521-4125
• DOI: 10.1002/ceat.201700544

The L‐shaped extraction pulsed plate column is believed to be able to perform under operating conditions between those of the vertical and the horizontal pulsed plate columns. It has an extraction efficiency similar to the vertical pulsed plate column. Here, the mass transfer performance of this novel column type was investigated and the application of three different models, i.e., the plug flow, the axial dispersion, and the back flow models, was evaluated to predict the solute concentration profile along the column length. The water‐acetone‐n‐butyl acetate and the water‐acetone‐toluene systems were used. The influence of the operational parameters on the height of the mass transfer unit and the back flow coefficients was evaluated using the back flow model. New correlations were proposed to predict the height of the mass transfer unit along with the back flow coefficients in each phase, which were in satisfactory agreement with the experimental data. The mass transfer performance of an L‐shaped extraction pulsed plate column was studied and the plug flow, axial dispersion, and back flow models were used to predict the solute concentration profile along the column length. New correlations to predict the height of the mass transfer unit along with the back flow coefficients in each phase were in good agreement with the experimental data.