Liquid-Liquid Extraction with pH Regulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional extracting methods using mixer-settler units for extracting neodymium and praseodymium from nitric acid-based solutions face inefficiencies due to pH changes during the extraction process, leading to slow extraction rates and prolonged separation times as the pH lowers, significantly deteriorating the time efficiency of the extraction process.
Innovation Solution
An extracting method utilizing a system of connected extraction units with pH regulation, where the mixture fluid is separated and the pH is adjusted before being introduced to the next stage, allowing the material fluid and extraction agent to flow through channels before reaching extraction equilibrium, thereby maintaining a high extraction speed by reversing pH changes and optimizing the extraction process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If mixer-settler units are used for extraction, then extraction of specific components can be performed, but the separation time becomes excessively long due to pH lowering during extraction progress
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by adding a base to the aqueous phase before the extraction process begins. This pre-adjustment of pH ensures that the extraction proceeds efficiently throughout the entire process without the pH dropping to levels that would slow down separation. The base is added in advance to counteract the acidification that occurs during extraction, thereby maintaining optimal conditions for both extraction efficiency and separation speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the pH parameter of the aqueous phase by adding a base to counteract the pH lowering that occurs during extraction. This parameter adjustment maintains the extraction efficiency and prevents the separation time from becoming excessively long. By dynamically managing the pH parameter throughout the extraction process, the system achieves both high extraction efficiency and reasonable separation time.
2Productivity
If agitation is performed in the mixer part to form emulsion, then extraction reaction occurs, but micro particles of organic phase disperse into aqueous phase requiring long settling time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by adjusting the pH of the aqueous phase before extraction begins. This pre-adjustment prevents excessive emulsification and dispersion of organic phase micro particles during the extraction process. By maintaining optimal pH conditions in advance, the system reduces the formation of stable emulsions that would require long settling times, thereby maintaining both extraction speed and reasonable separation time.
3Quantity of substance
If extraction continues until separation is completed, then complete extraction is achieved, but time efficiency deteriorates due to slow extraction progress in later stages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-adjusting the pH of the aqueous phase with a base before the extraction process begins. This ensures that the extraction maintains high efficiency throughout the entire process, preventing the pH from dropping to levels that would slow down the extraction rate. As a result, the system achieves complete extraction without requiring excessively long processing times, thereby improving time efficiency while maintaining extraction completeness.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enhances the time efficiency of the extraction process by preventing slow-downs due to pH changes, allowing for faster extraction rates and reducing the overall time required for separation, while minimizing the risk of clogging and maintaining high extraction speeds throughout the process.
Implementation Method 1
extracting a specific component from a material fluid to an extraction agent by using an extracting system which includes a plurality of extraction units respectively provided for a plurality of stages
Implementation Method 2
In the settler part, the introduced emulsion is settled to be separated into an organic phase and an aqueous phase
Data Source
AI summary
An extracting method includes: an extracting step of extracting a specific component from a material fluid to an extraction agent while allowing the material fluid and the extraction agent to flow in a channel of the extraction unit for each stage; an outflowing step of outflowing a mixture fluid from the channel of the extraction unit for each stage before the extraction of the specific component reaches an extraction equilibrium; and a pH regulating step of regulating the pH of the material fluid separated in a separating step after flowing out of the channel of the extraction unit for a predetermined stage so as to cause a reverse change from a change caused in the pH of the material fluid in the extracting step, before the material fluid is introduced into the channel of the extraction unit for a stage succeeding to the predetermined stage.