LIQUID-LIQUID EXTRACTION UNIT, MULTISTAGE LIQUID-LIQUID EXTRACTION APPARATUS USING THE UNIT, AND MULTISTAGE CONTINUOUS EXTRACTION SYSTEM FOR RARE EARTH ELEMENTS

摘要

A liquid-liquid extraction unit includes an extraction/separation tank (10) into which an aqueous phase in bubble form is admitted from an upper inlet (20) in one sidewall and an organic phase in bubble form is admitted from a lower inlet (30) in the one sidewall. The upward moving organic phase is contacted with the downward moving aqueous phase. After contact, the organic phase is discharged through an upper outlet (40) in an opposite sidewall and the aqueous phase is discharged through a lower outlet (50) in the opposite sidewall.

主权项

1. A method of liquid-liquid extraction of a substance, comprising:
contacting an aqueous phase and an organic phase to each other in a tank by introducing aqueous phase into an upper portion of one sidewall of the tank, and introducing organic phase into a lower portion of one sidewall of the tank, wherein at least one of the aqueous phase and the organic phase is introduced in bubble form, the organic phase moves from the lower portion to the upper portion contacting with the aqueous phase, the aqueous phase moving from the upper portion to the lower portion contacting with the organic phase, thereby transferring the substance between the aqueous phase and the organic phase, the aqueous phase and the organic phase move horizontally while exchanging their position upward and downward, separating the aqueous phase and the organic phase by discharging the organic phase from the upper portion of the opposite sidewall of the tank, and discharging the aqueous phase from the lower portion of the opposite sidewall of the tank.