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Solvent Extraction

on . Posted in Refinery Engineering

Solvent extraction, also called liquid-liquid extraction, is a separation process used to isolate specific compounds from a mixture.  It involves transferring a solute from one liquid phase to another based on the relative solubility of the solute in two immiscible liquids, typically an organic solvent and water.  This technique is widely used in industries like pharmaceuticals, mining, and chemical processing for various purposes, such as extracting valuable metals, purifying compounds, and concentrating solutions.

Key Steps in Solvent Extraction

Mixing  -  The aqueous solution containing the target solute is combined with an organic solvent that preferentially dissolves the solute.
Phase Separation  -  The two liquids, being immiscible, separate into two distinct layers typically, an organic layer and an aqueous layer.
Extraction  -  The solute moves from the aqueous layer into the organic layer (or vice versa) based on its higher affinity for one of the phases.
Collection  -  The two layers are separated, and the solute is recovered from the organic phase, often by evaporation of the solvent.

Important Factors in Solvent Extraction

Choice of Solvent  -  The solvent should selectively dissolve the target solute while being immiscible with the other phase.
pH and Temperature  -  These can significantly affect the solubility and separation efficiency.
Extraction Efficiency  -  It may be necessary to perform multiple extractions to achieve a high degree of separation.

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