Validation of Single-Drop Cell by the study of Mass Transfer Kinetics for n-Butyl Acetate, Water and Acetone

Abstract

Liquid-Liquid Extraction (LLE) serves as a pivotal technique in the recovery, purifica-tion, and isolation of essential components, making it indispensable for recycling critical raw materials, notably rare earth elements. This engineering master thesis underscores the significance of LLE within the context of recycling and resource recovery. The dissertation commences with a comprehensive literature review, elucidating the core principles governing LLE. The discussion extends to an exploration of diverse equipment types employed for this technique, particularly extraction columns. Cen-tral to this exploration is the elucidation of the underlying fundamentals that define the operation of extraction columns, a framework applicable across all variants. No-tably, the ubiquity of mass-transfer with single drops as the primary driver of phe-nomena across equipment types is highlighted. Presently, the field is marked by a heightened interest in scrutinizing the behavior of individual droplets, particularly within counter-current LLE columns. A comprehen-sive modeling approach capturing the intricate interplay of various phenomena with-in these columns is imperative for accurate description and modeling. In this context, ReDrop (Representative Drops) emerges as a viable modeling tool, integrating all pertinent phenomena to track drop behavior throughout the extraction column. Laboratory-scale experiments with single drops offer advantages in terms of reduced dimensions and lower liquid volumes, drastically cutting experimental time and as-sociated costs. This thesis delves into the validation of the University of Liège's sin-gle-drop cell, a crucial precursor for subsequent experimentation. The validation process encompasses a comparison of mass transfer rates with literature and mod-els established through the literature review. An in-depth analysis of operational challenges encountered during experimentation is presented, accompanied by an operational manual for the single-drop cell. The validation procedure, conducted with meticulous care, yields positive results, affirm-ing the reliability of the experimental setup. With this validation in place, the groundwork is laid for the next phase of the project.