Centrifugal Extractor is a one unit mixer and separator. Liquid-liquid centrifugal extractors are quite versatile in their design and applications.
In liquid-liquid centrifugal extractors, the heavy and light streams flow counter currently. The heavy phase enters near the center of the extractor, and the light phase near the edges.
Two liquids will be intensively mixed between the spinning rotor and the stationary housing at speeds up to 6000 RPM. Centrifugal forces cause the heavy components to flow outward, resulting in contact, mass transfer, and separation.
This develops great surfaces for an ideal mass transfer from the aqueous phase into the organic phase. At 200–2000 g, both phases will be separated again.
Droplet formation occurs in the body of the extractor through perforated concentric cylinders, enhancing the separation. Tubes extending to the periphery serve as exit tubes for the heavy components, while the light components exit through inner tubes.
Centrifugal extractors minimize the solvent in the process, optimize the product load in the solvent and extract the aqueous phase completely. Counter current and cross current extractions can be easily done.