Interfacial aspects of metal ion extraction in liquid-liquid systems

Abstract

Solvent extraction processes involving metals now form the basis for the separation of a significant amount of the world production of non-ferrous metals. In addition it is being used for the recovery and recycling of metals from waste streams. In the past these processes were designed on the basis that the two liquid phases were brought to equilibrium in a long residence time contactor such as a mixer settler, and so only equilibrium data was necessary. Recently a range of short contact time equipment, such as columns, membrane units etc., have been used in which the kinetics of the reaction and mass transfer rates must be included in the design. This review examines some of the recent adva..