Analysis of the efficiency of liquid membranes in extraction processes

Calculations were made to study the processes of purification of substances in a series of extraction and stripping columns or in a battery of mixer-settlers using a combination of free and supported liquid membranes. It was found that the efficiency of recovery or separation of substances in processes using liquid membranes exceeds that in conventional processes even after breaking up a series of columns or a battery of mixer-settlers into as few as two extractant-circulation loops. Investigation of the dependence of the purification processes on various parameters showed that the maximal effect on the processes is exerted by the distribution coefficients of substances at the stripping stage.