Experimental Study and Correlation for Mass Transfer Coefficient in the Pilot Plant Multistage Column with the Presence of Molybdenum

In the present work, multistage extraction column performance for reactive separation of molybdenum from the leach aqueous phase by using D2EHPA and TBP in kerosene was investigated by using the axial diffusion model. Initially, the values of initial pH and extractant concentration were optimized in the batch experiments. The variation of volumetric overall mass transfer coefficients based on continuous phases at various operating conditions was obtained. By considering the chemical reaction conditions, the experimental data indicate that the volumetric overall mass transfer coefficients increase with an enhancement in rotor speed and continuous and dispersed phase flow rates. According to the sensitivity analysis, the rotor speed and flow rate of the dispersed phase have more influence on column performance. Also, the continuous flow rate has little effect on volumetric overall mass transfer coefficients. After the steady-state condition was established, the concentration profile for the extraction of molybdenum along the column was obtained. The experimental data were studied and compared with the previous models. A new model based on dimensionless numbers was derived from the evaluation of overall mass transfer coefficients with consideration of the reactive extraction system.