CHAPTER 4 : LEACHING

INTRODUCTION

When two phases (solid and

liquid phase) are in intimate
contact and the solute or
solutes can diffuse from the
solid to the liquid phase, it This separation
will separate the
components originally in the process is called:
solid. liquid-solid leaching or
Leaching or extraction

Define washing
 LEACHING PROCESS
DESCRIPTION
PROCESS TO CONTACT A SOLID WITH A LIQUID
PHASE.
SIMILAR TO EXTRACTION BECAUSE OF TWO
IMMISCIBLE PHASES
SIMILAR TO ABSORPTION BECAUSE TWO PHASES
ARE NORMALLY PRESENT
DISSIMILAR TO OTHER SEPARATION PROCESS
BECAUSE ONLY EQUILIBRIUM IN LIQUID PHASES IS
CONSIDERED
 Leaching
process
Biological and Inorganic and
food organic
processing materials

Examples:
Leaching of sugar from sugar
beets
Examples:
Production of vegetable oils
from peanuts, soybeans, Metal processing
sunflower seeds. industries
Pharmaceuticals product by Gold is leached from its
leaching from roots, leaves ore using an aqueous
and stems. sodium cyanide solution
Production of soluble instant
coffee, soluble tea
 Fixed-bed leaching
T =344 K to 350 K
LEACHING PRINCIPLES
 EQUILIBRIUM AND SINGLE STAGE
LEACHING
1. State the components involved in leaching.
2. When is equilibrium reached in leaching?
3. State all the assumptions made for leaching
process?
4. Explain underflow and overflow.
5. Describe equilibrium line in leaching.
6. List factors affecting stage calculations
 LEACHING EQUILIBRIUM
SOLVENT FORMS A LIQUID SOLUTION -
CARRIER MAY BE TOTALLY IMMISCIBLE
SOME SOLUTION IS NORMALLY RETAINED
BY THE SOLID - HAS THE SAME
COMPOSITION AS THE LIQUID SOLUTION.
WHEN THE AMOUNT OF RETAINED
SOLUTION IS CONSTANT THE SYSTEM HAS
CONSTANT SOLUTION UNDERFLOW.
VARIABLE UNDERFLOW EXISTS WHEN THE
AMOUNT RETAINED IS A FUNCTION OF
CONCENTRATION
 TYPICAL EQUILIBRIUM
DIAGRAM
NOTE THE SOLID PHASE IS
REPRESENTED BY THE UPPER LINE
SOLUTION EQUILIBRIUM ON McCABE
IS x = y LINE FOR THIS SITUATION
SOLID PHASE

Y=B/(A+C)

LIQUID PHASE

0 1
xA, yA
 SINGLE STAGE LEACHING

MODELED LIKE A SINGLE STAGE LLX

xb,Lb xa,La

Y=B/(A+C)

yb,Vb
0 ya,Va 1
xA, yA
 MULTIPLE CROSS CURRENT
LEACHING
MODEL IS BASED ON AMOUNT IN
EACH PHASE

(xb,Lb)1 = (xa, La)2 xa,La

(xb,Lb)2

Y=B/(A+C)
M2

M1
yb,Vb
0 (ya,Va)1 1
(ya,Va)2 xA, yA
MULTIPLE CROSS CURRENT
LEACHING EXAMPLE
https://portal.navf
ac.navy.mil/portal/
pls/portal/docs/1/3
196547.JPG
 MULTISTAGE
COUNTERCURRENT LEACHING
RESULTS FOR DESIGN
ARE SIMILAR TO
SHOWN IN FIG. 12.10-2
FOR SYSTEM WITH
CONSTANT L/V RATIO,
THE APPROACH IS TO
MODEL USING
ABSORPTION FACTORS
FOR ALL STAGES
AFTER THE FIRST MIX
 MULTISTAGE
COUNTERCURRENT
LEACHING CONFIGURATION

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 Multi stage counter current Leaching

Process flow

Overflow solution Solvent Feed

V1, x1 VN+1, xN+1

Feed Slurry Underflow solution

L0, N0, y0, LN, NN, yN, B
B
V Mass of overflow solution xA Composition of A at overflow solution
L Mass of liquid in slurry solution yA Composition of A at slurry solution
B Mass of dry, solute free solid.
 Multi stage counter current Leaching
The ideal stages are numbered in the direction of the solids or underflow
stream.

The ideal stages are numbered in the direction of the solids or underflow
stream.

The solvent (C) solute (A) phase or V phase is the liquid phase that
overflows continuously from stage to stage countercurrently to the solid
phase, and it dissolves solute as it moves along.

The slurry phase L composed of inert solid (B) and liquid phase of A and C is
the continuous underflow from each stage.

Composition of V denoted by x

Composition of L denoted by y

Assumption: The solid B is insoluble and is not lost in the liquid V phase.

The flow rate of solid is constant throughout the process

Multi stage counter current Leaching

L0 VN 1 LN V1 M Total solution balance

L0 y A0 VN 1 x AN 1 LN y AN V1 x A1 MxAM Comp. A balance

B N 0 L0 N N LN N M M Solid balance
 Multi stage counter current Leaching

Example 2
A continuous countercurrent multistage system is to be used to leach oil from
meal by benzene solvent (B3).

The process is to treat 2000 kg/h of inert solid meal (B) containing 800 kg oil
(A) and also 50 kg benzene (C).

The inlet flow per hour of fresh solvent mixture contains 1310 kg benzene and
20 kg oil. The leached solids are to contain 120 kg oil.

Data (B3) are tabulated below as N kg inert solid B/kg solution and yA kg oil
A/kg solution

Calculate the amounts and concentrations of the stream leaving the process
and the number of stages required.
 Multi stage counter current Leaching

Solution 2

Overflow solution Solvent Feed

V1, x1 VN+1, xN+1

Feed Slurry Underflow solution

L0, N0, y0, LN, NN, yN, B
B

Information given:

Feed slurry (L0):

A = 800 kg/h B = 2000 kg/h C = 50 kg/h

Entering solvent (VN+1 )

A = 20 kg/h B = 0 kg/h C = 1310 kg/h

 Multi stage counter current Leaching

Solution 2

Overflow solution Solvent Feed

V1, x1 VN+1, xN+1

Feed Slurry Underflow solution

L0, N0, y0, LN, NN, yN, B
B

Information given:

Underflow solution (LN):

A =120 kg/h B = 2000 kg/h C = ?? kg/h

 Multi stage counter current Leaching

Solution 2

Find coordinate at L0.

Mass of A = 800 kg/h

Mass of B = 2000 kg/h

Mass of C = 50 kg/h

A A 800 800
y A0 0.94
L0 A C 800 50 850
B B 2000 2000
N0 2.35
L0 A C 800 50 850

Coordinate for L0 (yA0 , N0) = (0.94 , 2.35)

 Multi stage counter current Leaching

Solution 2

Find coordinate at VN+1.

Mass of A = 20 kg/h

Mass of B = 0 kg/h

Mass of C = 1310 kg/h

A A 20 20
xN 1 0.015
VN 1 A C 20 1310 1330
B B 0
N N 1 0
VN 1 A C 20 1310

Coordinate for VN+1(xN+1 , NN+1) = (0.015 , 0)

 Multi stage counter current Leaching

Solution 2

Find coordinate at LN.

Mass of A = 120 kg/h

Mass of B = 2000 kg/h

Mass of C = ?? kg/h
NN
Slope of graph,
yN
B
N N LN B 2000
16.67 N 16.67 y
yN A A 120
LN

If x = 0.1, N = 16.67 x 0.1 = 1.67

Plot New Coordinate(x , N) = (0.1 , 1.67)

 Multi stage counter current Leaching

Solution 2

3
LN
2 L0
1
0
VN 1
-0.4 -0.2 -1 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
N

-2
-3
-4
-5
-6
-7
x A, y A
 Multi stage counter current Leaching

Solution 2

From material balance calculations:

Total solution balance:

L0 VN 1 LN V1 M
L0 VN 1 M
850 1330 M M 2180 kg

Component A balance:

L0 y A0 VN 1 x N 1 MxAM
850 0.94 1330 0.015 2180 x AM
x AM 0.376
 Multi stage counter current Leaching

Solution 2

From material balance calculations:

Solid balance:
B N 0 L0 N N LN N M M
N 0 L0 N M M
2.35850 N M 2180 N M 0.916

Coordinate for M (xM , NM) = (0.376 , 0.916)

Plot coordinate M in the graph.

Construct line from point LN to point M until it cross at x axis. Point at

x axis = V1
 Multi stage counter current Leaching

3
LN
2 L0
M
1
V1
0 VN 1
-0.4 -0.2 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
-1
N

-2
-3
-4

-5
-6
-7
x A, y A
From figure,

Coordinate for V1 (x1 , N1) = (0.592 , 0)

Coordinate for LN (y1 , N1) = (0.12 , 2.0)

 Multi stage counter current Leaching

Solution 2

From material balance calculations:

Total solution balance:

V1 2180 LN Eq.1

Component A balance:
LN y N V1 x1 MxAM
LN 0.12 V1 0.592 2180 0.376

Insert Eq. 1 into equation above

LN 0.12 2180 LN 0.592 2180 0.376
0.12 LN 1290 .56 0.592 LN 819 .68
0.472 LN 470 .88 LN 997.62 kg
 Multi stage counter current Leaching

Solution 2

From material balance calculations:

Total solution balance:

V1 2180 LN Eq.1
V1 2180 997 .62

V1 1182 .38 kg

Construct operating point:

Connect L0 with V1 & LN with VN+1. The cross line operating

point.

Total stages: 4 stages

Point is located
graphically as the
intersection of lines L0V1
and LNVN+1

To determine number of
stages
Locate L0
Draw line L0 to locate V1
A tie line through V1
locates L1
Line L1 is drawn given V2
A tie line gives L2
This is continued until the
desired LN is reached
 Multi stage counter current Leaching

Solution 2
Construct the stages:

3
LN L3 L2
2 L1 L0
M
1
V1
0 VN 1
-0.4 -0.2 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
-1
N

-2
-3
-4

-5
P -6
-7
x A, y A
MULTISTAGE COUNTERCURRENT LEACHING
MODEL

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leaching.html
LEACHING
LIQUID-SOLID LEACHING
Moving-bed leaching
 Exercise: Explain the process of
leaching in Agitated solid leaching
Single stage leaching
SOLID FEED, L0 LEACHED SOLID, L1
B = SOLID B = SOLID
N0, yA0 N1, yA1

SOLVENT FEED EXTRACT

V2, xA2 V1, xA1

L0 V2 L1 V1 M (12 .9 4)
y A0L0 x A2V2 y A1L1 x A1V1 x AM M (12 .9 5)
B N0L0 N1L1 NM M (12 .9 6)
 V1, x1 V2, x2

slurry slurry
Lo, No, yo, B L1, N1, y1, B

Figure 1 Process flow diagram for single stage extraction

Graphical solution
Equilibrium line indicates
the solute concentration in
the solvent is the same in
both the solid underflow
and liquid overflow.

B B
NM
L0 V2 M
L0 y A0 V2 x A 2
x AM
L0 V2
For feed with no solvent
CONCENTRATION IN SOLID IS yA0 = 1
 V1, x1 V2, x2

slurry slurry
Example 1 Lo, No, yo, B L1, N1, y1, B

In a single-stage leaching of soybean oil from

flaked soybeans with hexane, 100 kg of soybeans
containing 20 wt% oil is leached with 100 kg of
fresh hexane solvent. The value of N for the slurry
underflow is essentially constant at 1.5 kg
insoluble solid/kg solution retained. Calculate the
amounts and compositions of the overflow V1 and
the underflow slurry L1 leaving the stage.
Solution
Given:
V2 = 100 kg
xA2 = 0
xC2 = 1
B = 100 (1.0 0.2) = 80 kg insoluble solid
L0 = 100 (1.0 0.8) = 20 kg A
N0 = 80/20 = 4 kg solid/kg solution
yA0 = 1
Find point M from MB
L0 + V2 = 20 + 100 = 120 kg = M eq(1)
L0yA0 + V2xA2 = 20 (1.0) + 100 (0) = 120 xAM eq(2)

Solving simultaneously eq 1 and 2, xAM = 0.167

B = N0L0 = 4.0(20) = 80
= NM(120)

So, NM = 0.667
The coordinates for the points:
Lo = (y0,N0)
L1 = (y1,N1)
V1 = (x1,0)
V2 = (x2,0)
M = (xM,NM)

L0 = (1,4)
L1 = (read from graph,1.5)
V1 = (read from graph,0)
V2 = (0,0)
M = (0.167, 0.667)

Please take note:

1. L1MV1 and L0MV2 must lie on a straight line
2. L1 and V1 must lie on a vertical line.
3. Point M is the intersection of the two lines.
NOW CHECK UNDERSTANDING..
1. State the components involved in leaching.
Solute (A), Inert/Leached Solid (B) and Solvent (C)
2. Describe about inert materials in leaching.
The inert or insoluble solute B in the slurry is denote with N. Is kg B over total kg
A plus C
3. State condition when the equilibrium is reached in leaching?
When the solute is dissolved in the liquid.
4. State all the assumptions made for leaching process?
Solute-free solid is insoluble in the solvent
Sufficient solvent is present
No adsorption of the solute by the solid in the leaching
5. Explain underflow and overflow.
Underflow-A slurry stream/solid stream
Overflow Liquid steam/solvent stream
6. List factors affecting stage calculations
Concentrations of the solute in the solution
The retention time
Temperature of process
 Countercurrent multistage leaching

Overall balance: Vn+1 + L0 = V1 + Ln

Component balance on solute A: Vn+1 xn+1 + L0y0 = V1x1 + Lnyn
i) Variable Underflow in Countercurrent Multistage Leaching

Overall balance:
VN+1 + L0 = V1 + LN = M

Component balance on A:
VN+1 xAN+1 + L0yA0 = V1xA1 + LNyAN = MxAM

Total solids balance on B:

B = N0L0 = NNLN = NMM

Coordinate M =(xAM , NM)

Remember:

L0MVN+1 must lie on a straight line

V1MLN must also lie on a straight line

A balance on solute A gives:

A balance on solids gives:

Coordinate operating
point = (xA , N)
Point is located
graphically as the
intersection of lines L0V1
and LNVN+1

To determine number of
stages
Locate L0
Draw line L0 to locate V1
A tie line through V1
locates L1
Line L1 is drawn given V2
A tie line gives L2
This is continued until the
desired LN is reached