UESLB Solid-Liquid Extraction Unit

The Solid-Liquid Extraction Unit, "UESLB", is a laboratory-scale unit designed to study the separation of a soluble element from a solid in a continuous feed, multistage and countercurrent way, with the help of a solvent.

The unit utilises a continuous feed, counter current flow, multiple stage (but may also configured as one or two stage process for teaching purposes), rotary extractor system of the type frequently seen in industrial applications. The effects of temperature, multiple stages, and throughput rate can all be investigated.

The design of the unit is based on the continuous rotation extraction cell used in industrial scale, which is called ‘Rotocel’. This is the main part of the solid/liquid extraction system and it is divided into compartments. The raw material is fed into these compartments from the input hopper. The material is then passed under three solvent sprinklers, and the dissolved product captured in three drainage compartments. Pumps are provided to pump the product from the drainage compartment of one stage to the sprinkler of the next stage. At the end of the process the spent carrier material will go to a collection container.

The solid carrier can be a light porous material. It can be impregnated with a salt such as sodium bicarbonate or potassium bicarbonate, which is then extracted by the process.