Mixer settler is a step-by-step contact extraction equipment, which consists of mixing chamber and settling chamber. In each stage of the equipment, the two immiscible liquid phases will undergo two processes: stirring and mixing, settling and separating the phases, thereby achieving mass transfer and separation of the target solute between different liquid phases.

Mixer Settler Working Process

The specific working process of mixer settler is that the feed liquid and the extractant enter the mixing chamber through their respective feed inlets by the feed pump, and the high-speed rotating agitator mixes the feed liquid and the extractant for mass transfer, and then enters the settling chamber through the overflow baffle, and the light and heavy phases are separated under the action of gravity. The separated light and heavy phases enter different outlets respectively, completing an extraction process. In actual production, the mixer settler is generally multi-stage series, including extraction section, stripping section, washing section and regeneration section, etc., which should be configured according to the production process.

Mixing mass transfer process

Aqueous feed input: The aqueous feed to be extracted and the extractant enter the mixing chamber of the mixer settler through their respective feed inlets. For example, in hydrometallurgy, an aqueous solution containing metal ions is used as the aqueous feed, and the organic extractant is introduced into the mixing chamber as another liquid phase.
Stirring and mixing: The mixing chamber is equipped with an agitator, which rotates at high speed to fully contact and mix the aqueous feed and the extractant. Under the action of stirring, the solute is transferred from the aqueous feed to the extractant to form a two-phase solution. The intensity and time of stirring have an important influence on the mass transfer efficiency. Insufficient stirring will cause the two phases to not fully contact, reducing the mass transfer efficiency; while excessive stirring may cause emulsification and increase the difficulty of subsequent separation.

Separation process

Overflow into the settling chamber: The mixed liquid enters the settling chamber through the overflow baffle. The settling chamber is an empty chamber with a large cavity volume, which provides sufficient space for the static stratification of the liquid.
Natural separation by gravity: In the settling chamber, due to the different densities of the aqueous feed and the extractant, the two phases gradually separate under the action of gravity. The denser phase (usually the heavy phase) sinks to the bottom, and the less dense phase (usually the light phase) floats on top, forming a clear phase interface.
Partial contact reduces mass transfer efficiency; excessive stirring may lead to emulsification, increasing the difficulty of subsequent separation.

Main Features of Mixer Settler

1.High stage efficiency
2.Simple structure: The mixer settler is generally composed of a tank body, an interface adjustment tube, a motor reducer, a stirring shaft, a stirring paddle, a speed regulator, a movable platform, etc., and the structure is relatively simple.
3.Stable operation and strong adaptability: Due to the large volume of the mixer settler and the large amount of liquid stored, it can adapt to a certain range of liquid fluctuations. After adjusting the balance, the operation is relatively stable and the adaptability is relatively strong.
4.Reliable enlargement: The design parameters such as the extraction rate of a single stage are still relatively reliable after enlargement.

Mixer Settler Integrated Equipment

Process design: Design a reasonable extraction process according to customer needs.
Equipment selection: Select the appropriate mixer settler model and configuration for different material systems.
Engineering design: Including equipment layout, pipeline design, instrument control, PLC integration, etc.
Equipment manufacturing: Provide non-standard customized production and processing of extraction tanks according to needs.

To meet customer needs, TIEI Extraction provides extraction equipment consulting and services: from process operation conditions communication, planning, solution design, on-demand customization, production and manufacturing, etc., to help you build the ideal extraction equipment.
Email: sales@tieiextraction.com
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