PERFORMANCE OF A LARGE-SCALE PACKED LIQUID-LIQUID EXTRACTOR

The performance of commercial-size high-efficiency packings was determined by using a 42.5-cmdiameter (i.d.) liquid-liquid extractor. Both random and ordered packings were studied to determine their effects on the fluid hydraulics and mass-transfer efficiency in a larger diameter extractor. These packings included no. 25 and 40 metal Intalox saddle (IMTP) random packing and Norton 2T ordered packing. Physical property effects were studied for three test systems, Isopar-M/water, toluene/water, and toluene/acetone/water. The influence of packed height was also investigated and was observed to have a significant effect on the mass-transfer efficiency of the random packings. The experimental results were compared with models based on data obtained in small-scale columns. For the ordered packing, these models agreed favorably with the larger scale data; such was not the case with random packings. Based on these experimental results, it is evident that significant maldistribution can occur in larger diameter towers containing random packings. The apparent maldistribution was observed to increase with increasing packed height and column diameter. Maldistribution did not appear to be a problem with the ordered packings. © 1990, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.