A Multi‐Stream Microchip for Process Intensification of Liquid‐Liquid Extraction

Abstract

Solvent extraction is a critical step in many industrial mineral‐processing circuits and is affected by chemical (e.g., metal ions, extractant, pH, reaction rate) and physical (e.g., interfacial phenomena, mass transport, temperature) factors. Here, a new type of microfluidic contactor is presented that enables higher volumetric throughputs and straightforward counter‐current operation compared with Y‐Y chips. A single chip design can handle a wide range of organic/aqueous phase ratios, thereby enabling stable operation for non‐ideal solutions and fluctuating flow. An expression defining this widened operational window has been derived based on the relative stream geometries and liquid viscosities. A two‐stage counter‐current circuit is demonstrated for the extraction of platinum(IV) chloride.

Viscosity Ratio Influence on Liquid‐Liquid Flow in a T‐shaped Microchannel

“…For example, plug or droplet flow is very convenient for the encapsulation of biological objects and favorable to the enhancement of the mass transfer efficiency between phases due to circulating vortices in the fluid segments [4,5]. However, sometimes it is more advantageous to work in a parallel flow regime, for instance, when the problem of separation of the extractant and the initial solution during the extraction process should be avoided [6,7]. Thus, an understanding of the mechanisms of flow pattern formation and an effective operation with them is crucial for the design and construction of microfluidic devices.…”

Review of Microfluidic Liquid–Liquid Extractors

“…47 Figure 8d shows an interdigital pattern inlet with 49 microchannels, which feed 24 aqueous and 25 organic streams to the contact zone where extraction takes place. 52 3.1.2. Interface Stability.…”

“…Therefore, to date, only a few studies have examined countercurrent microfluidic extraction and extractors. 52,[148][149][150][151][152][153][154][155][156][157]159,160 These studies can be classified as those related to multistage countercurrent MEs, those related to continuous countercurrent MEs, and those related to hybrid countercurrent MEs, on the basis of the mass transfer mode and details of the flow arrangement.…”

Precipitation of Drug Particles Using a Gas Antisolvent Process on a High-Pressure Microfluidic Platform

“…Microfluidic devices can be scaled up to achieve higher throughput and thus laboratory research can be adapted for industrial use. This makes microfluidics a powerful tool for the process intensification of small-batch manufacturing . Dense gas processes implemented on a microfluidic platform would be highly valuable for producing a range of pharmaceutical or nutraceutical compounds.…”

“…This makes microfluidics a powerful tool for the process intensification of small-batch manufacturing. 20 Dense gas processes implemented on a microfluidic platform would be highly valuable for producing a range of pharmaceutical or nutraceutical compounds.…”