Potential use of pulsed electric fields for mass transfer
intensification of drops in liquid--liquid extraction
Abstract
Mass transfer intensification of circulating drops, in liquid–liquid
extraction, was investigated using pulsed electric field in an
extraction column equipped with parallel electrodes. The
kerosene–acetic acid–water chemical system was employed in which mass
transfer resistance exists mainly in the organic phase. The low electric
field strengths of 2 - 16 V/cm and frequencies of 100 - 1000 Hz were
applied. Results showed no sensible change in the hydrodynamics of drops
and terminal velocities were precisely close to the Grace model,
implying that the system physical properties remained constant. It was
while electric field had significant impact on the mass transfer with
the average and maximum enhancements of 30.3 and 70.5%. The
experimental data were nicely reproduced based on the Kumar and Hartland
correlation and in relation to a developed correlation for the
enhancement factor in terms of Reynolds number, strength and frequency
of the pulsed electric field.