Open AccessCover Picture: Efficient Extraction of Metal Ions Using a Recirculating Two‐Stage Flow Reactor (Chemistry ‐ Methods 12/2021)
Author(s) -
Harvie Andrew J.,
Mello John C.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
chemistry ‐ methods
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2628-9725
DOI - 10.1002/cmtd.202100093
Subject(s) - copper , separator (oil production) , chemistry , ion , metal ions in aqueous solution , organic acid , extraction (chemistry) , solvent extraction , orange (colour) , volumetric flow rate , inorganic chemistry , chromatography , analytical chemistry (journal) , organic chemistry , thermodynamics , physics , food science
The Front Cover shows a simple flow‐based reactor for extracting copper ions from an impure feed solution. The extraction occurs in two stages. In the first stage, the feed solution (blue) is mixed with an immiscible organic solution (orange) that contains copper‐selective extractant molecules. The copper ions rapidly transfer to the organic phase, which is then ‘tapped‐off’ using a liquid‐liquid separator. In the second stage, the organic solution is mixed with an acid solution (green), which strips the copper ions from the organic solvent. The two phases are separated using a second liquid/liquid separator. The copper solution passes straight through, while the organic solution is tapped‐off and recycled through the reactor to carry out further extractions. More information can be found in the Full Paper by Andrew J. Harvie et al.