G. M. Voldman, Independent Expert, Moscow, Russia, e-mail: gvoldman@bk.ru

JSC “Giredmet”, Moscow, Russia:
V. V. Apanasenko, Head of Laboratory of Technology of Distribution of Rare-Earth Metals and Compounds

Liquid-liquid extraction is widely used in hydrometallurgy of non-ferrous, rare and radioactive metals. The most difficult problem, solved by this method, is the separation of similar elements, in which, as a rule, it is necessary to obtain one or even both elements in pure form and with high extraction. In most cases, this is achieved only in a complete counter-current process, which is realized in an extractive cascade which consists of two parts — the extraction one where obtaining in pure form in the aqueous phase (raffinate) is worse than with the extractable component (or group of components) and the washing one where obtaining in pure form is better than with the extractable component (or group of components) in the organic phase (extract). Since the organic phase from the extraction part of the cascade enters the washing part, whilst the aqueous phase from the washing part, together with the initial solution, goes to the extraction solution, when determining the required extraction conditions (i.e. the necessary ratios of extractant and washing solution to the feedstock stream, numbers of steps of the cascade’s extraction and washing parts, compositions of the resulting products — raffinate and extract), a complete counter-current cascade can be calculated only as a whole unit. As a result, the calculation is associated with a large amount of computation and takes a lot of time even with modern computing facilities. An effective way to automate calculations is to create templates in Excel table processor that do not require re-calculation when switching to another extraction system, but only to enter new initial data into the corresponding cells. This article is devoted to the development of such a template for a complete counter-current process with constant coefficients of distribution of components in both parts of the cascade.

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