A horizontal axis rotating disc contactor combining narrow mixing space and oil-wet slits

Abstract Rotating disc contactor (RDC) is one of the most important extraction columns for liquid-liquid extraction. A single-stage horizontal axis RDC (HRDC) was developed and used for extraction of emulsion system. The extractor composed characteristics of narrow mixing space of 1 mm and oil-wet slits. For ethanol/water/2-ethyl-hexanol system, both mass transfer and phase separation were enhanced simultaneously, and the extraction efficiency was higher than single equilibrium stage. The results showed the sufficient mass transfer achieved at low-rotation speed in a short time. Extract phase separation was enhanced by crossing the narrow oil-wet slits repeatedly to make oil droplets coalescence. The circulation flow played a key factor for the higher efficiency. The extractor was simulated with Aspen Plus©.