Microextraction of lanthanum using a rotating microchannel extractor

Abstract

This work introduced a novel microchannel extractor. The extraction system was intended to extract lanthanum nitrate aqueous solution with 2-ethylhexyl phosphoric acid-2-ethylhexyl ester (EHEHPA). Different feeding methods and inner rotors were explored first. The results showed that parallel feeding and inner rotors engraved with spiral stripes were more favorable for extraction. Next, the effect of various factors on the extraction was explored, including the aqueous phase pH, rotational inner rotor speed (R) and the fluid volumetric flow rate (Q). The results showed that these factors are closely related to the extraction. Finally, the experiment was verified by CFD numerical simulation, the simulation result was consistent with the experiment. In this device, active mixing was introduced into the microchannel extraction, which significantly improved the extraction efficiency. Under certain conditions, the extraction efficiency of this device exceeded stirring extraction equilibrium. Moreover, the extraction in the device is faster than with conventional stirring extraction. These advantages provide a possibility for highly efficient extraction of rare earth elements.

Keywords

• micro-extraction
• la (ⅲ)
• mass transfer
• simulation