Column settler for high performance liquid/liquid phase separations in hydromellurcial processes and methods thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017080355-A1
Application number	US-201515120239-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 16, 2015
Priority date	Feb 20, 2014
Publication date	Mar 23, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A mixer settler system is disclosed. The system comprises a mixer [ 110 ] configured for receiving an organic phase and an aqueous phase, the mixer [ 110 ] being further configured to maintain the organic phase and the aqueous phase in a single unstable emulsion phase, wherein mass transfer occurs between said organic phase and said aqueous phase; and, a column settler [ 120 ] which is configured to receive a single unstable emulsion phase from the mixer [ 110 ] via an emulsion inlet [ 125 ] and is also configured to separate the single unstable emulsion phase into a stable organic phase and a stable aqueous phase by virtue of coalescence; the column settler further comprising an organic outlet [ 121 ] above the emulsion inlet [ 125 ] and an aqueous outlet [ 123 ] below the emulsion inlet [ 125 ]; the column settler [ 120 ] further discouraging mass transfers within the unstable emulsion phase and further promoting coalescence of each of said stable organic phase and stable aqueous phase. A method of settling two immiscible liquids is further disclosed. The method comprises providing a mixer [ 110 ] configured for receiving an organic phase and an aqueous phase; maintaining the organic phase and the aqueous phase in a single unstable emulsion phase using the mixer [ 110 ], wherein mass transfer occurs between said organic phase and said aqueous phase; providing a column settler [ 120 ] which is configured to receive a single unstable emulsion phase from the mixer [ 110 ]; sending the single unstable emulsion phase to the column settler [ 120 ]; and separating the single unstable emulsion phase into a stable organic phase and a stable aqueous phase within the column settler [ 120 ] by virtue of coalescence.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A mixer settler system [ 100 ] comprising:
a mixer [ 110 ] configured for receiving an organic phase and an aqueous phase, the mixer [ 110 ] being further configured to maintain the organic phase and the aqueous phase in a single unstable emulsion phase, wherein mass transfer occurs between said organic phase and said aqueous phase; and, a column settler [ 120 ] which is configured to receive a single unstable emulsion phase from the mixer [ 110 ] via an emulsion inlet [ 125 ] and also configured to separate the single unstable emulsion phase into a stable organic phase and a stable aqueous phase by virtue of coalescence; the column settler further comprising an organic outlet [ 121 ] above the emulsion inlet [ 125 ] and an aqueous outlet [ 123 ] below the emulsion inlet [ 125 ]; the column settler [ 120 ] further discouraging mass transfers within the unstable emulsion phase and further promoting coalescence of each of said stable organic phase and stable aqueous phase; wherein the column settler [ 120 ] is further provided with gentle agitation means; the gentle agitation means comprising a shaft [ 122 ] that moves and at least one baffle [ 124 ] attached to said shaft [ 122 ]; and, wherein the gentle agitation means does not form an emulsion or facilitate mass transfer, but improves coalescence within the column settler [ 120 ].

2 . (canceled)

3 . (canceled)

4 . The mixer settler system [ 100 ] according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one baffle [ 124 ] is round.

5 . The mixer settler system [ 100 ] according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one baffle [ 134 ] is helical.

6 . The mixer settler system [ 100 ] according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one baffle [ 124 ] is flat.

7 . The mixer settler system [ 100 ] according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one baffle [ 144 ] is vertically oriented.

8 . The mixer settler system [ 100 ] according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one baffle [ 154 , 164 ] is oriented at an angle.

9 . The mixer settler system [ 100 ] according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one baffle [ 124 ] comprises a solid portion [ 124 a ] and an open portion [ 124 b].

10 . The mixer settler system [ 100 ] according to claim 9 , wherein the at least one baffle [ 124 ] comprises a plurality of open portions [ 124 b].

11 . The mixer settler system [ 100 ] according to claim 9 , wherein the at least one open portion [ 124 b ] is round.

12 . The mixer settler system [ 100 ] according to claim 9 , wherein the at least one open portion [ 124 b ] is elongated.

13 . The mixer settler system [ 100 ] according to claim 9 , wherein the at least one open portion [ 124 b ] comprises a slot or slit.

14 . The mixer settler system [ 100 ] according to claim 1 , wherein the gentle agitation means comprises reciprocating means.

15 . The mixer settler system [ 100 ] according to claim 14 , wherein the reciprocating means comprises the shaft [ 122 ], wherein the shaft moves axially up and down within said column settler [ 120 ].

16 . (canceled)

17 . (canceled)

18 . The mixer settler system [ 100 ] according to claim 1 , wherein the gentle agitation means comprises slow rotation means.

19 . The mixer settler system [ 100 ] according to claim 18 , wherein the slow rotation means comprises the shaft [ 122 ], wherein the shall [ 122 ] slowly moves in clockwise or counter clock-wise direction within said column settler [ 120 ].

20 . (canceled)

21 . The mixer settler system [ 100 ] according to claim 18 , wherein the slow rotation means comprises the shaft [ 122 ], wherein the shaft [ 122 ] slowly moves in a clockwise and then slowly in a counter clock-wise direction within said column settler [ 120 ].

22 . (canceled)

23 . The mixer settler system [ 100 ] according to claim 1 , wherein the gentle agitation means comprises the shaft [ 122 ], slow rotation means, and reciprocating means.

24 . (canceled)

25 . (canceled)

26 . A method of settling two immiscible liquids, the method comprising:
providing a mixer [ 110 ] configured for receiving an organic phase and an aqueous phase; maintaining the organic phase and the aqueous phase in a single unstable emulsion phase using the mixer [ 110 ], wherein mass transfer occurs between said organic phase and said aqueous phase; providing a column settler [ 120 ] which is configured to receive a single unstable emulsion phase from the mixer [ 110 ]; the column settler [ 120 ] being provided with gentle agitation means; the gentle agitation means comprising a moving shaft [ 122 ] and at least one baffle [ 124 ] attached to said shaft [ 122 ]; and sending the single unstable emulsion phase to the column settler [ 120 ]; applying gentle agitation within the column settler [ 120 ] via said gentle agitation means; separating the single unstable emulsion phase into a stable organic phase and a stable aqueous phase within the column settler [ 120 ] by virtue of coalescence; discouraging mass transfers within the unstable emulsion phase after the unstable emulsion phase enters the column settler [ 120 ]; and, promoting coalescence of each of said stable organic phase and stable aqueous phase in the column settler [ 120 ].

27 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the column settler [ 120 ] further comprises an organic outlet [ 121 ] above an emulsion inlet [ 125 ] and an aqueous outlet [ 123 ] below the emulsion inlet [ 125 ].

28 . (canceled)

29 . (canceled)

30 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the step of separating the single unstable emulsion phase into a stable organic phase and a stable aqueous phase within the column settler [ 120 ] by virtue of coalescence is performed using gravity.

31 . (canceled)

32 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the step of applying gentle agitation within the column settler comprises reciprocation of the shaft [ 122 ], wherein the shaft [ 122 ] moves axially up and down within said column settler [ 120 ].

33 . The method of claim 32 , wherein the reciprocation of the shaft [ 122 ] further comprises the at least one baffle [ 124 ] moving axially up and down within said column settler [ 120 ].

34 . The method of claim 33 , wherein the at least one baffle [ 124 ] comprises one or more open portions [ 124 b].

35 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the step of applying gentle agitation within the column settler comprises slowly rotating the shaft [ 122 ].

36 . The method of claim 35 , wherein the step of slowly rotating the shaft [ 122 ] comprises slowly rotating the shaft [ 122 ] in a clockwise and/or counter clock-wise direction within said column settler [ 120 ].

37 . (canceled)

38 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the step of applying gentle agitation within the column settler comprises slowly rotating the shaft [ 122 ] clockwise and then slowly rotating the shaft [ 122 ] in a counter clock-wise direction within said column settler [ 120 ].

39 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the shaft [ 122 ] comprises an inner shaft [ 222 ′] and an outer shaft [ 222 ″]; and wherein the step of applying gentle agitation within the column settler comprises slowly rotat

Assignees

• Baczek Frank
• Smidth As F L

Inventors

• Baczek Frank
• Chaiko David J
• Gupta Vishal
• Kandagatla Suma
• Potratz Bryan
• Roy Gary

Classifications

• B01D17/041

  with moving devices · CPC title

• B01D11/048

  Mixing by counter-current streams provoked by centrifugal force, in rotating coils or in other rotating spaces · CPC title

• B01D17/02

  Separation of non-miscible liquids · CPC title

• C22B3/00

  Extraction of metal compounds from ores or concentrates by wet processes · CPC title

• B01D17/0211

  with baffles · CPC title