화학공학소재연구정보센터
Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering, Vol.92, No.12, 2166-2175, 2014
TWO-PHASE FLOW IN METAL MONOLITHS: HYDRODYNAMICS AND LIQUID-LIQUID EXTRACTION
This work aims to explore the application of metal monoliths as a scale-up option for efficient liquid-liquid extraction. The pressure drop, mass transfer and residence time distribution are measured for low Ca (approximate to 10(-5)) with monoliths having three different cell densities. The cross-over section between two monoliths was seen to enhance mixing in the column. However, the RTD of two-phase liquid-liquid up-flow was inferior to the single phase RTD. For higher cell density substrates, the cross-over zones seem to cause trapping of slugs due to non-superimposing channel ends. Relatively high shear rates through the film of continuous phase helped enhance the mass transfer rates, thereby helping to achieve the desired extraction in a short column. The entrance sections and cross-over zones between the monoliths adversely affected the extraction for higher cell density monoliths. The analysis of data supports use of low cell density monolith for better performance and scale up.