Application of microchemical technology in mass transfer behavior contrastive research of rare earth extraction

摘要

The solvent extraction of Sm (III) by P507 were carried out in both serpentine Y-junction and T-junction micro flow reactors to contrast the mass transfer behavior in these two kinds of reactors. Dispersed slugs were periodically observed in both reactors by a high-speed camera with the aid of microscope. Slug length and specific interface area were determined by the Scopephoto software, slug flow gradually decreased their own size and specific interface area inconspicuously affected by the variation of flow rate, whereas the values of volumetric mass transfer coefficients showed the greater positive correlation trend. The volumetric mass transfer coefficients vary between 0.007 and 0.039 s(-1) in T-junction micro flow reactor, which is two orders of magnitude lower compared to Y-junction micro flow reactor (0.310 to 1.139 s(-1)). These studies indicate that Y-junction micro flow reactors could better enhance the solvent extraction than T-junction micro flow reactors, and the contrastive results could be a significant reference for the implementation of micro flow reaction in rare earth extraction industry.