Afolabi T. J and ALAO Adeyinka Idowu
Liquid extraction is a process used to separate fermentative organic products. Several factors like types and concentration of extractants, temperature, packing device are considered in the process and column designs for effective separation. The effect of packing device (Raschig rings, wire gauze rings and stainless steel rings) on the efficiency of liquid-liquid extraction of toluene-acetone-water system was evaluated at 298.15K and atmospheric pressure, using bench and pilot scales. were investigated. In the bench scale experiment, the Raschig rings has the highest transfer unit; HTU (162.52) and column efficiency (0.0062) with respect to extract solute concentration (0.0150) at ±1.8784% confidence limit. Extraction was not achieved in all the 4 stages involved in the pilot scale experiments, except situations when the feed and solvent flowrates were both maximum. The HTU was low compared to the bench scale, for all the packing materials, with Raschig rings having comparably lowest HTU. This portends the pilot scale has better column efficiency for all the packing materials used in the extraction process, with Raschig rings being the best materials for the pilot scale extraction process.