Analytical Sciences

Counter Current “Emulsion Flow” Extractor for Continuous Liquid–Liquid Extraction from Suspended Solutions

Nobuyuki YANASE,* Hirochika NAGANAWA,* Tetsushi NAGANO,* and Junji NORO**

*Nuclear Science and Engineering Directorate, Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Tokai, Ibaraki 319-1195, Japan
**Research Department, NISSAN ARC, LTD., Yokosuka, Kanagawa 237-0061, Japan

A single current “emulsion flow” liquid–liquid extraction apparatus has a head with a number of holes from which micrometer-sized droplets of an aqueous phase spout into an organic phase to mix the two liquid phases. For practical use, however, a fatal problem can occur when particulate components in the aqueous phase plug the holes. In the present study, we have succeeded in solving the problem by applying a counter current-type emulsion flow extractor where micrometer-sized droplets of the organic phase are generated.

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