Polymeric Aggregating Agent for Solid-Stabilized Emulsion Separation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hydrometallurgical solvent extraction processes face challenges with the accumulation of a third phase 'crud' layer, which impedes complete organic solvent-aqueous separation, leading to inefficient operations and high costs due to labor-intensive removal methods and costly equipment modifications.
Innovation Solution
The use of water-soluble or water-swellable polymeric aggregating agents to destabilize and separate the solid-stabilized emulsions into organic, aqueous, and solid components, allowing for rapid and efficient recovery of the organic solvent extractant, thereby reducing processing time and costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional settling tanks are used for organic-aqueous separation, then gravity separation occurs, but crud accumulates at the interface impeding complete separation and requiring shutdown for cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
A third phase dispersant is introduced as an intermediary substance that modifies the interface between organic and aqueous phases. This dispersant prevents crud from forming a continuous emulsion layer by keeping it dispersed as fine droplets, allowing continuous removal without shutdown while maintaining separation efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical-chemical parameters of the interface by adding a dispersant that alters the interfacial tension and emulsion stability. This parameter change transforms the crud from a stable, accumulated emulsion into a dispersible state that can be continuously removed, resolving the contradiction between continuous operation and separation efficiency
2Reliability
If settling tanks are shut down to remove crud, then complete separation can be achieved, but production rates decrease due to downtime
Solution Approach 1:
The third phase dispersant enables continuous removal of crud by preventing its accumulation into a stable emulsion layer. The dispersant maintains the crud in a dispersible state throughout continuous operation, eliminating the need for shutdowns while preserving complete separation through continuous mechanical removal
Solution Approach 2:
The dispersant acts as a mediator that allows continuous interaction between the crud and removal mechanisms. By preventing stable emulsion formation, the dispersant enables the removal system to continuously access and remove crud without interrupting the extraction process, maintaining both separation completeness and production rate
3Reliability
If labor-intensive methods are used to remove crud, then crud can be physically removed, but operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The third phase dispersant enables the system to self-manage crud removal by maintaining crud in a dispersible state that responds to simple mechanical agitation or flow. This eliminates the need for complex, labor-intensive removal systems while achieving complete crud removal through the dispersant's self-acting properties
Solution Approach 2:
By changing the physical state of crud through dispersant addition, the invention transforms crud from a state requiring intensive mechanical removal to one that can be easily managed by simple agitation or flow. This parameter change reduces operational complexity and cost while maintaining effective crud removal
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 recovery of organic reagents, decreases crud processing time, and maintains production rates by simplifying the process and reducing operational costs in hydrometallurgical solvent extraction systems.
Implementation Method 1
mixing a water-soluble or water-swellable polymeric aggregating agent with the solid-stabilized emulsion, thereby separating the emulsion into its organic, aqueous, and solid components
Implementation Method 2
water-soluble or water-swellable polymeric aggregating agents for recovering organic solvent extractant from solid-stabilized emulsions
Implementation Method 3
the metal-laden organic solvent extract separates by gravity from the metal-depleted aqueous solution
Data Source
AI summary
Processes for recovering an organic solvent extractant phase from a solid-stabilized emulsion formed in a hydrometallurgical solvent extraction circuit are disclosed. One such process includes mixing a de-emulsifier comprising an effective amount of a polymeric aggregating agent with the solid- stabilized emulsion, thereby separating the emulsion into its aqueous, organic, and solid phase components; and removing the organic solvent extractant phase from the other components, thereby recovering the organic solvent extractant phase from the solid-stabilized emulsion.