Investigation of extraction fraction in confined impinging jet reactors for tri-butyl-phosphate extracting butyric acid process☆

The extraction fraction E and overall volumetric mass transfer coefficient kLa of TBP extracting butyric acid pro-cess in confined impinging jet reactors (CIJR) with two jets were investigated. The main variables tested were the concentration of tri-butyl-phosphate (TBP) and butyric acid, the impinging velocity V, the impinging velocity ratio of two phases Vorg/Vaq, the nozzle inner diameter di and the distance L between the jet axes and the top wall of the impinging chamber. The results showed that E and kLa increase with an increase of the impinging ve-locity V, the concentration of TBP Corg, and the impinging velocity ratio Vorg/Vaq. However, E and kLa decrease with an increase of the inner diameter di from 1 to 2 mm, the concentration of butyric acid Caq from 0.5%(v/v) to 2%(v/v). The factor L ranging from 3 to 11 mm has a negligible effect on E and kLa. A correlation on these variables and kLa was proposed based on the experimental data. These results indicated good mass transfer performance of CIJR in the extraction operation.