Investigation of copper extraction from aqueous sulfate solution in a rotating disc contactor

Abstract

The extraction of copper from aqueous sulfate solution with new extractant Cupromex-3302 (active substance is the 5-nonylsalicylaldoxime) using a rotating disc contactor (RDC) was investigated. It was observed from batch experiments that the best results were obtained with the initial aqueous pH and concentration of Cupromex-3302 of 1.9 and 10% (v/v) respectively. In continuous experiments, the first critical rotor speed based on drop breakage probabilities was determined. Then the effects of rotor speed, dispersed and continuous phase flow rates on hydrodynamic parameters such as static hold-up, mean drop sizes and extraction efficiency were studied. The experimental results were compared with the ones obtained by the empirical correlations for prediction of the dispersed phase static hold-up and mean drop sizes in terms of the operating variables and the physical properties. The results of experiments proved the feasibility of operating the solvent extraction of copper from the aqueous solution using rotating disc contactor.