Liquid extraction, sometimes called solvent extraction, is the separation of the constituents of a liquid solution by contact with another insoluble liquid. It belongs to the class of countercurrent diffusional separation processes, where it ranks second in importance to distillation. There are many different types of columns that are available for liquid-liquid extraction and the reciprocating column (RPC) and vibrating plate column (VPE) are two types of mechanically aided columns. This research aims at developing a mathematical model for the prediction of NTUIHETS and the mass transfer coefficient, k-ox for the VPE based on the agitation level of the plates (af- the product of frequency and amplitude of the plate motion), the plate spacing and the flow rates which will allow for the simplification in the design of this type of column. There is a lot of research that has gone into the development of mechanically aided extraction columns but it is limited when it comes to the RPC and VPE and most of this research is devoted to the RPC. The system chosen is the acetone-toluene-water system with the acetone in toluene forming the feed that is dispersed in the column as it moves upward while the water moves as a continuous phase down the column. Experiments were conducted to evaluate the hydrodynamics of the droplets moving up the column (in terms of drop sizes, size distribution and dispersed phase holdup) and to evaluate the mass transfer that occurs (in order to evaluate NTU, HTU and k-ox) as well as the effect of mass transfer on the hydrodynamics of the system while varying the agitation levels and spacing of the plates in the column. Successful models were developed using some of the experimental data and these correlations were verified with additional data. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2010.

Equilibrium and kinetic data for the solvent extraction of germanium by three impure commercial 7-alkylated-8hydroxyquinoline extractants which vary in structure at the 7alkyl group, are evaluated in order to elucidate an holistic kinetic extraction model which accounts for the various reactions and partition effects occurring during the metal-ion chelation process. It is proposed that for the extraction process, which is first order in germanium concentration, by the ligand reagents Lix 26, TN 01787 and TN 02181, the rate-determining step, on stereochemical grounds, is the attachment of either a neutral ligand or a protonated ligand species-to the biligand intermediate GeL2 2+ (L:ligand) at the interface. In high speed shaking/mixing assemblies the extraction process was observed to occur in two discrete reaction regimes : a fast initial rate for which the orders with respect to ligand reagent are 1,06, 2,10 and 1,77 for TN 02181, Lix 26 and TN 0178-7 respectively, and a slower subsequent rate for which the apparent reaction orders with respect to ligand concentration are 1,12, 2,70 and 3,08 for TN 02181, Lix 26 and TN 01787 respectively. For the slower reaction regime, orders between 1 and 3 are explicable if the steady state approximation is invoked for the intermediate germanium species GeL3+ and GeL2 2+ formed at the interface. In the fast reaction regime, it is proposed that the accelerated extraction rates are a function of (i) the speciation of germanium and (ii) participation in the rate-determining step by the protonated ligand moiety H2L+HS04- which is rapidly formed after phase contact. At low ligand concentration, the following order of ligand efficacy has been observed : TN 01787 < Lix 26 < TN 02181 whereas at high concentration ligand efficacies are similar because the interface is saturated with ligand. Orders with respect to [H+] for the reagents vary from -1 to - 3 during the course of reaction, indicating complex mixedorder behaviour. The effects upon extraction of ionic strength, temperature, the addition of organic modifiers and diluent nature are investigated as well as the kinetics of germanium stripping by aqueous hydroxide. The physical effects of interfacial tension, viscosity and relative dielectric constant are also reported and suggestions are made as to their effect upon the extraction characteristics. Computer modelling of the extractants has been used as an aid in describing size, structure and stereochemical considerations of the ligands and the chelate products. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Natal, Durban, 1990.

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Graduation date: 1954

Thesis (MSc.(Chemistry)--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (doctoral)--University of Helsinki, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available via the Internet.