Comparative study of liquid-liquid extraction in miniaturized channels over other conventional extraction methods

We demonstrate the complexion of extracting an aromatic organic compound in microchannel system over other conventional methods like batch extraction, microwave assisted extraction and ultrasonic assisted extraction. Extraction studies were carried out for phenol, an aromatic organic compound from dodecane into distilled water. The extraction process is studied for a varying extraction time, microwave energy, percent ultrasonic power and micro channel diameter. Batch extraction is carried out at 25, 50, 100 and 200 rpm, microwave assisted extraction is carried out at 119, 231, 385, 539 and 700 W, ultrasonic assisted extraction is conducted in a 130 W ultrasonicator at a frequency of 20 kHz and amplitude of 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 % for a varying extraction time of 1, 2, 4, 8, 16 and 32 min. While, the microsystem based extraction was carried out in a circular T junction microchannel. Among the various flow types in a microchannel, slug flow is intensified for its better hydrodynamic and mass transfer properties. Microchannel having diameter 600, 800, 1,000, 1,200 A mu m is used and compared for better extraction percentage. Experimental results manifested that 600 A mu m showed better extraction percentage. When comparing the extraction percentage of phenol acquired in microchannel system with other convention methods we observed the following ladder: slug based extraction > ultrasonic assisted extraction > microwave assisted extraction > batch extraction. Also, the microsystem based extraction needed just half of the operation time required by other conventional methods for achieving maximum extraction percentage. This subsequently causes effective usage of chemicals, thereby reducing chemical wastage. And, high efficient extraction can be obtained at very less time.