ANALYSIS OF A SINGLE-STAGE MIXER SETTLER PERFORMANCE

A new design of a single-stage mixer-settler is presented. The mixer, a vertical cylindrical vessel 5.5 cm in diameter and 18.0 cm long, is used for mixing the phases in its lower part. Complete solute transfer occurs in the mixer since coalescence of the dispersed phase droplets takes place on their way up via the mixer outlet to the settler. The settler, a vertical tower 3.4 cm in diameter and 40.0 cm long, serves only as a flash separator. The contactor has been tested by the toluene-acetic acid-water system in both directions of mass transfer. The contactor operates as an ideal stage when tested with the acid system. The hydrodynamics and the dynamic behavior of the contactor have been studied. A model approach has been adopted for the mixer. Agreement between the model output data and the experimental results was excellent.