Further studies on solvent extraction with immobilized interfaces in a microporous hydrophobic membrane

Investigations on solvent extraction of acetic acid into xylene or methyl isobuty] ketone by using immobilized interfaces in microporous hydrophobic membranes have now been extended to a number of different membranes with a wide variation in pore size and porosity. Measured intrinsic membrane transfer coefficients of the solute are adequately described by the simple model of unhindered diffusion in tortuous pores developed earlier. Applied pressure difference did not influence the overall solute transfer coefficient as long as it was not close to that required for the breakthrough of aqueous phase into organic phase. Aqueous and organic boundary layer mass transfer coefficients in the flow type test cell have been determined with a known membrane and utilized to predict effectively the overall solute transfer coefficient observed with other membranes.