Mass transfer performance in a pulsed sieve-plate extraction column

Mass transfer characteristics of a dilute organic acid solution were studied in a 5 cm pulsed sieve-plate extractor (PSE). Mass transfer experiments were conducted on 10%(w/w) acetic-acid solution in water while ethyl acetate was used as a solvent. The longitudinal concentration profiles were developed for both the continuous and dispersed phases. The effects of pulsation intensity and continuous phase and dispersed phase superficial velocities on apparent heights of transfer units were evaluated. For the conditions of experimentation, the column proved to be more efficient at higher pulsation intensities and dispersed phase superficial velocities. (author)