Reactive liquid-liquid test system Zn/Di (2-ethyl hexyl) phosphoric acid/n-Dodecane. Equilibrium and kinetics

This contribution reviews the models for equilibrium and kinetics of the system Zn/D2EHPA/n-dodecane (and other diluents), published during the past decade, as well as values of the appropriate model parameters, i.e. of equilibrium and reaction rate constants. The reviewed kinetic models comprise those for kinetic, diffusional and mixed mass transfer regimes. It is shown that, under certain conditions, the rate equation within the kinetic regime has the same mathematical structure as the equations for the overall mass transfer rate within the diffusional and mixed mass transfer regimes. This means that the same equation interprets experimental data from each of the three regimes. Thus, a fit of experimental data to a model is not sufficient for discriminating between the mass transfer regimes. Results of kinetic experiments, using a stirred mass transfer cell with constant interfacial area, are presented.